Chain store sales declined 1.5% in the week ended August 18, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Snapshot released Tuesday.
Year-over-year basis, retail sales were up 3.1%.
"Retail sales continue to be mixed with weekly sales growth slipping but yearly momentum relatively healthy," said Michael Niemira, ICSC vice president of research and chief economist. "Consumer traffic was a bit stronger over the past week, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs consumer tracking survey, as consumers were possibly enticed by the array of back-to-school retailer promotions from free haircuts to sweepstakes to win iPads," Niemira added.
