US Chain Store Sales Down 2%

The International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs Retail Chain Store Sales Index fell 2% in the week ended Saturday from the week before on a seasonally adjusted, comparable-store basis as mixed weather hasn't contributed to spring apparel sales. Weather was mild for the week as a whole, but those mild temperatures were too early and not consistent enough to spark any sustained interest in spring apparel, according to the ICSC report. ICSC expects February industry sales will increase 3% to 3.5%. On a year-on-year basis, the reading rose 2.8%.