Retail sales dropped during week

WASHINGTON, June 3 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States declined 0.8 percent on the week ending May 31, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.

Shopping declined on the week, but rose "a sluggish 1.2 percent" from the same week a year ago, the report said.

Shopping was hindered by the sixth consecutive week of "seasonally cool weather," ICSC reported.

High gas prices have also hobbled shoppers, averaging a record $3.976 per gallon on the week ending June 2, a gain of 4 cents from the previous week and 25.9 percent higher than the same week a year ago, ICSC said.