Highlights
The ICSC-Goldman Sachs (ICSC-GS) chain store sales index for the week ending July 24 was up 0.6 percent. When compared with last year, the seasonally adjusted pace of spending moderated to 3.8 percent in the latest week. Once again the abnormally hot weather helped drive some customer traffic in regions. But the retail industry is in a transition period between summer clearance and back-to-school, which makes it difficult for retailers to leverage the hot-weather for sales. June 2010 comparable-store store sales were up by a lack luster 3.0 percent on the year as based on a tally of 31 retail chains compiled by the International Council of Shopping Centers.