Retailers' weekly sales rise 3.4%: survey

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Retailers' weekly sales rise 3.4%: survey
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Chain-store sales for the week ended Sept. 17 rose 3.4% from the year-earlier period, according to a survey released Tuesday by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs. On a week-over-week basis, sales fell 1.2%. "Sales volatility returned to the retail landscape as discounters appeared to have lost some business while the cold seasonal weather benefited department stores and lifted seasonal merchandise," said Michael Niemira, ICSC's chief economist. He forecast industry comparable-store sales in September to fully recover its momentum to yield an increase of between 4% and 5% and by 3% to 4%, excluding the impact of fuel sales.