Chain Store Sales Higher Than Last Year

New York, NY, Sept. 8, 2010--U.S. chain-store sales rose 1.8% year on year last week, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs.

The weekly index was basically flat, though, compared against the previous week.

“Sales began the new fiscal month weak as the national weather remained unfavorable for fall merchandise demand,” said Michael Niemira, ICSC's director of research and chief economist.

ICSC is predicting that chain-store sales could improve by 3% during September.