Retail Sales Edged Up Last Week

Washington, DC, July 28, 2009--U.S. retail sales rose slightly in the week ending July 25, the International Council of Shopping Centers reported Wednesday.

Sales were up 1 percent compared to the previous week and down 0.5 percent compared to the same week a year ago, the weekly ICSC-Goldman Sachs report said.

In the week, discount and dollar stores proved to be the exception with "notably weaker" traffic, the report said.

Gasoline prices also may have helped cool down shopping with prices at the pump rising an average of four cents a gallon across the nation compared to the previous week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said.