U.S. Chain-Store Sales +1%

U.S. weekly chain-store sales rose 1.3 percent from one year ago, according to comparable store data released by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs. But the week to week change at retail counters was negative reflecting an overall consumer pullback on spending.

"Sales continued to soften over the latest week as mixed regional influences from weather combined with uneven traffic and some softer spending by consumers led to the decline," said Michael Niemira, ICSC director of research and chief economist. "Given the last two weeks sales are now tracking about 2 to 2.5 percent for the month which is somewhat below ICSC Research's earlier expectation of approximately 3.5 percent," Niemira added.