Chain Store Sales Rise 3.4% Last Week

New York, NY, Nov. 10, 2010 -- U.S. chain-store sales increased 3.4% on a comparable store basis this past week, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs.
 
“Retailers were aided by a blast of cold temperatures over the last week—especially in the East and South—which lifted the demand for fall and winter merchandise,” said Michael Niemira, ICSC director of research and chief economist.

“The past week got the month off to a strong start.  For November, ICSC Research anticipates that year-over-year comparable-store sales growth will increase by 3% to 4%, industry-wide, as more favorable weather and the start of the 2010 holiday shopping season takes hold,” Niemira added.