Feb 11, 2009

Retail sales hold steady during weekBy UPI.com

Washington, DC — Retail sales in the United States were unchanged in the week ending Feb. 7, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.

Sales were unchanged on the week but down 1.8 percent from the same week a year ago, the report said.

Around the country, “consumers … were generally buying stables (food and drugs), while traffic was stronger at the dollar stores, as well,” the report said.

Weather, averaging 4.7 degrees Fahrenheit colder than the same week a year ago, may have contributed to slow sales, although the week’s average temperature was 0.9 degrees higher than historic averages.

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