Chain store sales grew 0.5% in the week ended Aug. 25, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Snapshot released Tuesday.
Year-over-year sales improved to a 3.4% increase.
"A bout of cooler weather nationally and more school systems beginning their new school year gave consumers the motivation they needed to spend, helping to lift overall back-to-school shopping and weekly sales this past week," said Michael Niemira, ICSC vice president of research and chief economist. "Given this late push, ICSC Research anticipates that comp-store sales will increase by 3.5% to 4.5% when most retailers report their monthly sales results for August on Thursday, August 30, 2012," Niemira added.