Target (TGT) warns of September sales slowdown

Target Corp.'s (NYSE: TGT) is now warning the market of a slower September sales month after coming off several months of better-than-expected same-store sales. The nation's second-largest discount retailer seemed to set a scary precedent for other retailers as well, with the market thinking that a slow holiday season could set in as October approaches and the holiday shopping season begins in November.

But alas, retailers (and other companies) are known to downgrade guidance only to then beat expectations by a long shot. It's a standard tactic with many public companies, although Target's volume of housewares equipment and cheap but fashionable clothing could suffer from the housing market downturn and uncertainty about gas prices. Umm, hello? These factors have existed at the front of the line for quarters now, so why attribute possible holiday season shopping slowdowns to the most oft-mentioned causes?

On one level, it makes sense. Discretionary spending becomes tight when mounds of gift purchases are at stake, and the housing market tumble could cause skittishness in the buying public in terms of how much it spends this year for holiday gifts. This week, Target, cut its forecast for September same-store sales (sales from stores open at least a year) to 1.5% to 2.5% -- quite a drop from the previous 4% to 6%. In a sign that maybe the housing market was playing a factor, the retailer stated that sales in Florida was particularly sluggish. The state is sharing the top spot with California in terms of housing foreclosures and mortgage flops.