"The decline, though, was not as steep as it was in the prior quarter, and the company said sales improved each month of the period."
Looks like sales picking up to me. Today was worse than last year, but today was better than yesterday.
A year ago the consumer would buy a frappucino any time he damned pleased. Yesterday the consumer would drink water only. Today he treats himeself to a Starbux frappucino again. Tomorrow maybe he'll buy a fully loaded SUV.