Chain Store Sales up 0.3% Last Week

New York, April 10, 2007--Chain store sales rose 0.3%, verses the prior week, according to a survey by the International Council of Shopping Centers and UBS Securities released today.

Sales were up 4.9% compared with the year-ago period.

"March certainly came in like a lamb but is going out like a lion," said Michael Niemira, ICSC's chief economist. "With Easter fast approaching and the continuation of warmer weather consumers have had the motivation to spend." For March, ICSC expects reported sales to grow by 4% to 5% as the earlier Easter holiday boosts March performance at the expense of April.