New York, NY, March 14, 2006--Chain store sales rose in the latest week for the fourth week in a row as spring-like weather nationwide brought shoppers out, according to a report on Tuesday.
Sales edged up 0.1 percent in the week ended March 11, after ticking up by 0.2 percent in the prior week, according to the report produced by the International Council of Shopping Centers and UBS Securities LLC.
The ICSC also said sales rose 3.7 percent last week versus the same year-earlier week. In the previous week sales were up 4.3 percent versus the same week a year ago.
"As spring-like weather sprung up across the nation, consumers continued on their spending spree last week," said Michael P. Niemira, ICSC's chief economist and director of research.
"For March, ICSC expects industry same-store sales to rise by approximately 2.5 percent to 3.0 percent, on a year-over-year basis," Niemira added
