Year-to-year chain store sales for April jumped beyond expectations, the International Council of Shopping Centers reported Thursday.

Chain store or same-store sales, a result that measures sales from stores that have been in business at the same location for a year or more, climbed a solid 3.6 percent in April, the retail group reported Thursday.

ICSC said much of the gains were due to a lift from the shifting Easter date, which gave April 2008 one more Sunday of sales over Sunday 2007.

There was also a modest increase in pent-up demand early in the month, when the weather was warmer and more convenient for shoppers, the report said.

Wal-Mart Stores reported a strong demand for video games, gaming systems, food, prescription and over-the-counter medications, the report said.

Saks said its promotional work contributed to a 23.9 percent increase in April, the report said.

Other retailers noted the macroeconomics environment remains challenging, the report said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International


Publication date: 09 May 2008   

Source: UPI-1-20080508-16513300-bc-us-chainstoresales.xml

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