ARLINGTON, Va. -- The average weekly sales per agency location hit
its highest level in four years in November, based on an analysis
of ARC sales statistics.
The weekly average for November 2002 was $39,411, up 34% from
the $29,495 tallied in November 2001, a unique sales period due to
the impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Nevertheless, the November 2002 weekly sales average was still
higher than the weekly averages in 2000 and 1999, which were
$38,025 and $31,497, respectively.
For the year-to-date, the average weekly sales per agency
location averages comes to $40,018, up 6% compared with last
year.
The trend is largely a function of declining agency population.
The number of ARC retail locations at the end of November was
25,135, down 11% from a year ago.
For the year-to-date, the number of voluntary deletions, or
agencies relinquishing their ARC accreditation, was 4,314, down
from 4,753 for the same period last year.
ARC stats also show agency air sales still struggling against a
soft economy.
Agencies remitted $4.6 billion through ARC in November, up 19%
from the $3.9 billion sold in November 2001, but far below the $7.1
billion tallied in 2000.
Year-to-date sales are $59.7 billion, down 9%. --
M.M.