New York, NY, April 4, 2006--Chain store sales were flat in the previous week with some impact from the lateness of the Easter holiday and shifting weather across the U.S., according to a report on Tuesday.
Sales were unchanged in the week ended April 1, after dipping by 1.6 percent in the prior week, according to the report produced by the International Council of Shopping Centers and UBS Securities LLC.
The ICSC said sales rose 2.4 percent last week versus the same year-earlier week. In the previous week sales rose 2.7 percent versus the same week a year ago.
"This past week, sales once again reflected the Easter-shift and the shifting weather patterns across the country," said Michael P. Niemira, ICSC's chief economist and director of research.
"As a result, for March, ICSC now expects monthly chain store sales to rise by 2.0 percent to 2.5 percent, on a year-over-year basis, slightly lower than previously forecasted," Niemira added.
