U.S. weekly retail sales down last week

NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- January retail chain store sales in the United States fell 1.1 percent, an industry group said Tuesday.

The International Council of Shopping Centers also said sales for the week ending Jan. 28 were 4.1 percent over year-earlier levels.

"Easy comparisons due to last year's storms helped to lift the year-over-year sales pace above expectations for the week," said Michael P. Niemira, ICSC's chief economist and director of research.

"January sales continue to hold up and we now expect industry same-store sales will rise by approximately 3.5 to 4 percent, on a year-over-year basis for January," Niemira added.