Weekly Chain Store Sales Up Over Last Year

New York, NY, Nov. 23, 2010 -- U.S. weekly chain-store sales on a comparable store basis rose 2.8% from last year, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs. 

“Weekly retail sales experienced a pre-holiday lull ahead of the 'Black' or  more appropriately 'Bargain' Friday shopping and the traditional start of the 2010 holiday season,” said Michael Niemira, ICSC director of research and chief economist. 

“Despite last week’s results, ICSC still anticipates a relatively robust month for sales with bargain hunters helping to propel the overall month results,” Niemira added.

For November, ICSC Research anticipates that year-over-year comparable-store sales growth will increase by 3% to 4%, industry-wide, as more favorable weather and the start of the 2010 holiday shopping season takes hold.