Weekly retail sales up slightly

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States rose slightly in the week ending Nov. 1, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.

Sales rose 0.6 percent over last week's sales figures and 0.9 percent over the same week a year ago, the report said.

Around the country "declining gasoline prices continued to provide some relief for consumers' ability to spend, although this nascent positive effect has been largely offset by other negative economic and financial factors," the weekly report said.

Gasoline prices averaged $2.40 a gallon on Nov. 3, falling for the seventh consecutive week, ICSC said.