Chain Store Sales Decline Last Week

Washington, DC, Sept. 7, 2011 -- Chain store sales fell last week, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs.

Overall weekly retail sales declined by 0.7% from the previous week.  On a year-over-year basis retail sales also felt the effect and slowed to 2.7%.  

"The lingering impact from Hurricane Irene continued this past week, especially in the Northeast, as consumers who stocked up in advanced of the storm buying of staple goods took a break from shopping
this past week," said Michael Niemira, ICSC vice president of research and chief economist.