Chain Store Sales Up Over Last Year

New York, NY, July 7, 2011 -- U.S. chain-store sales rose 3.5% over last year for the week, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs. Retail sales rose 1.5% from the previous week.

"As the fiscal month of June came to a close this past week consumers gave retailers something to celebrate as they spent on seasonal goods, giving retailers another week of positive sales increases," said Michael Niemira, ICSC vice president of research and chief economist.

ICSC Research is expecting same-store sales for the month of June to have increased between 2.5% and 3.5% excluding gasoline sales.