Chain Store Sales Grew 0.7% in Week Ended Dec. 22

Chain store sales increased 0.7% in the week ended Dec. 22, as last-minute holiday shopping spurred sales, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Snapshot released Wednesday.

Year over year, retail sales grew 3.2%.

"The unadjusted calendar comparison was actually unfavorable for in-store sales this past week as they were being compared with the week ending Christmas Eve last year (Dec. 24, 2011)," said Michael Niemira, ICSC vice president of research and chief economist. "Therefore, in the final week of December in-store sales growth will likely be boosted by the calendar shift, which is why we are holding to our expectations for the month."

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