Weekly Chain Store Sales Up 2.1% from Year Ago

New York, NY, March 13, 2007--Chain store sales for the week ended March 10 rose 2.1% from the year-ago period, the International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc. and UBS Securities said in a survey released on Tuesday.

On a week-over-week basis, sales rose 0.7%.

"The year-over-year pace of sales for the fiscal month will move counter to the weather proverb; it has comes in like the proverbial lamb, but will go out like the proverbial lion as Easter-related demand will be strong compared with a later Easter of 2006," said Michael Niemira, ICSC's chief economist.

This year, Easter falls on April 8, compared to April 16 last year. For the month, sales are expected to increase by 4% to 5%.