New York, NY, September 27, 2005 -- The International Council of Shopping Centers said Tuesday that retail chain store sales for the week ending September 24 were up 0.1 percent. It was the first increase in eight weeks.
On a year-over-year basis, the overall sales pace also improved to 2.8 percent.
"This past week, retail sales improved slightly as the nation`s attention shifted from Hurricane Katrina to Hurricane Rita. Although consumers are still worrying about high gasoline prices affecting their discretionary spending ability, at least, over the last week consumers worried a little less and spent a little more," said Michael Niemira, ICSC`s chief economist and director of research.
"As we look to the last week of September, we expect retail chain store sales to increase by 3 percent on a year-over-year basis," Niemira added.
