Walmart had bad start to the month because the payroll tax is back???

[OldDem2012]

10. I'm not seeing the definitive analysis from Walmart on this issue. From your OP...

...here are the three POSSIBLE reasons:

1. One reason some customers may have stayed away from the retailer could be the higher payroll taxes that kicked in at the beginning of 2013.

2. Delayed income tax refunds, which would mean billions of dollars going to consumers, were another reason for the poor sales start to February.

3. A still-weak economy and persistent unemployment caused Wal-Mart to adjust expectations, but executives believed they would see a spike in sales to begin February due to Super Bowl ads as well as payroll cycles working in their favor.

So, let's rank them, shall we?

1. Delayed income tax refunds. Lots of folks who shop at Walmart depend on their annual tax refunds to fuel their shopping from mid-February to March 1. This is the time of year folks purchase those items they've been unable to purchase since their last tax refund. This is THE most valid reason for a slump in Walmart's sales. Once the refunds start flowing, sales at Walmart will pick up.

2. A still-weak economy and persistent unemployment. Additionally, retailers have been laying off their part-time Holiday seasonal employees, reducing disposable income even more.

3. Higher payroll taxes. Sorry....I'm not seeing this factor having as big an impact as you seem to think. Walmart is using this explanation to mask overly ambitious and poor sales forecasting by their senior executives.