NEW YORK – U.S. chain store sales rose solidly in the latest week, helped by late Halloween sales and easing of gasoline prices, a report said Tuesday.
Sales were 1.0 percent higher in the week to Nov. 5 after rising just 0.4 percent in the prior week, according to the report from the International Council of Shopping Centers and UBS.
Compared with the same week a year ago, sales were up 4.1 percent, after a 4.4 percent rise in the prior week.
"Late Halloween sales helped to lift sales last week," said Michael Niemira, chief economist and director of research at the ICSC.
Niemira also cited energy costs, saying declining gasoline prices are likely to help push up November sales at stores open at least a year by 3.5 percent to 4.0 percent.
The ICSC-UBS Weekly Chain Store Sales Snapshot is compiled from a group of major discount, department and chain stores across the country that report their weekly results.
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