Text: US ICSC-GS Wkly Store Sales +0.8% in June 5 Week

WASHINGTON (MNI) – The following is the commentary from the
ICSC-Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Snapshot released
Tuesday:

Warm weather throughout the nation acted as a sales catalyst for
consumers and gave retailers another week of positive sales results.
For the first week of the fiscal month of June, weekly sales improved by
0.8 percent, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs weekly sales index. On
a year-over-year basis sales remained positive and improved by 3.0
percent.

“Sales spurted during the first week of the fiscal month of June as
a bout of hot weather was the catalyst for apparel demand, in
particular,” said Michael Niemira, ICSC director of research and chief
economist. “For the month, ICSC Research expects sales will increase by
3.0 to 4.0 percent as easy comparisons will be boosted by the
calendar-shift pushing Memorial Day sales into the June fiscal month as
well as a ‘warm weather’ lift,” Niemira added.

** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **

[TOPICS: MAUDT$,MAUDS$,M$U$$$]