Retail Sales Rebound but Still Sluggish

Washington, DC, June 11, 2008--Retail sales in the United States rose 1.7 percent for the week ending June 7, the International Council of Shopping Centers USB reported Tuesday.

The shopping index rebounded after six weeks of declines but rose by "only a sluggish 1.8 percent" from a year ago, the weekly report said.

"The six-week stretch of colder year-over-year conditions is over" but shopping was curbed by flooding and tornadoes in the Midwest region, ICSC reported.

High gasoline prices also continue to dampen sales.