US DATA: ICSC-GS wkly chain stores -0.4% for the 13..

US DATA: ICSC-GS wkly chain stores -0.4% for the March 13 wk. The
report says, “After last weeks strong weekly performance, retail sales
for the week ending March 13 edged back only by a modest 0.4 percent as
Northeast storms curbed shopping in that region, according to the
International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc. (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs
(GS) index. Encouragingly, on a year-over-year basis, sales slowed
marginally from the prior weeks pace to a still-healthy 3.2 percent.
“Despite the wrath of Mother Nature in the Northeast, consumers were not
deterred in unleashing a little of their own pent-up demand, especially
early in the week — which helped to offset the weekend weather drag on
sales,” said Michael Niemira, ICSC director of research. See more on the
MNI main wire.