Here's the big key from retailers this earnings season: Margins are holding up and that's driving earnings beats even amid more tepid sales trends. That's all led to a rather lackluster round of retail sales this earnings season. Retailers have avoided heavy discounting We haven't seen many mentions this season of retailers resorting to steep markdowns despite more tepid shopping trends. Lower freight and shipping costs Another major pandemic cost driver was elevated transportation costs for retailers. Abercrombie & Fitch saw gross margin improvement "primarily driven by a benefit of 760 basis points from lower freight costs ."

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Persons: Kohl's, Abercrombie, Fitch, TJX, Ralph Lauren, Lululemon, Michael Kors Organizations: Abercrombie, Fitch, Retailers, Urban, Anthropologie, Free People Group, Urban Outfitters, Walmart, Body, Nordstrom, Dollar Locations: Kohl's, Costco