ForecastIQ Gauges Holiday Spending of Consumers by Retailer

New Service Provides Same Store Sales Growth or
Decline Based on Customer Purchase Intentions

COLUMBUS, OH – (MARKET WIRE) – 11/20/2008 – Trying to gauge how willing consumers will be to spend this holiday season is as difficult as predicting the next bailout victim. However, thanks to a new monthly service called ForecastIQ from Prosper Technologies, LLC, understanding what consumers will spend at specific retailers over the next 75 days is now possible and the initial forecast bodes well for retailers like Costco, Buckle and Walmart, among others.

A partial list of retailers covered in the ForecastIQ and expectations for same store sales growth/decline for the next 75 days follows:

Almost certain to see increase            Almost certain to see decline        
BJ’s                                      Abercrombie & Fitch          
Buckle                                    American Eagle                        
Costco                                    Bonton                             
Family Dollar                             Chico’s
Hot Topic                                 Dillard’s
Sam’s Club                                Gottschalks
Walmart                                   Old Navy
                                          Steinmart
                                          Victoria’s Secret

Likely to see increase                    Likely to see decline  
Aeropostale                               Pacific Sun
Children’s Place                          Stage
Fred’s

No change (flat)
Catos
TJX

Actual forecasts for each retailer can be accessed through a 30-day free trial of ForecastIQ by visiting http://www.forecastiq.com/.

“Consumers’ drive to spend less is resulting in same store sales growth for retailers such as Costco, Sam’s Club and Walmart who offer consumers a value/discount experience and conversely decrease spending at more upscale stores,” said Greg Allenby, Ph.D. “Shoppers are more likely to act out their intentions in a difficult economy and are decreasing their spending at upscale stores.”

ForecastIQ was developed by Prosper Technologies and Allenby by analyzing over 7 years of data from BIGresearch’s monthly Consumer Intentions & Actions (CIA) surveys. Allenby analyzed same store sales of over 37 publicly held retailers and applied Bayesian quantile analysis to the data including whether or not consumers said they plan to spend more, same or less. The results are accurate and for the first time provide a forecast of consumer spending 75 days in advance. Same store sales forecasts are provided by percent growth over the next 45- and 75-day period. Short-term forecasts are also available via enhanced consensus estimates.

About Prosper Technologies:  Prosper Technologies develops consumer centric analytics such as ForecastIQ from consumer responses to help businesses forecast consumer demand and expenditures, budget marketing and merchandising allocations and provide retailer specific cross consumption behaviors. 

ForecastIQ is a forecast of same store sales for 37 retailers based upon future spending plans of consumers derived from BIGresearch’s monthly Consumer Intentions and Action survey (CIA).  Forecasts are 45 and 75 days forward and also include an enhancement to the consensus currently provided in the marketplace. For more information: http://www.goprosper.com/forecastiq-info.pdf

Contact:
Phil Rist
614-846-0146