US DATA: ICSC-Goldman Store Sales for Dec 24 wk: “Last minute
shoppers were out in force this past week as they finished up their
holiday shopping giving retailers a strong two-week sales finish to the
2011 holiday season. Overall, for the week ending December 24, 2011
weekly retail sales rose by a solid 0.9 percent, according to
International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs
Weekly Chain Store Sales Index. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales
remained positive and relatively steady at 4.5 percent.”