U.S. retail still looks like an off year

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. retail researchers said shopping increased during the week compared with a year ago, but not all the numbers look promising.

Bill Martin of ShopperTrak warned the 27 shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year -- compared with 32 a year ago -- may catch some consumers "off guard," The New York Times reported Monday.

The National Retail Federation said money spent increased 7.2 percent per shopper during the holiday weekend, but Black Friday, the day stores traditionally go into the black each year is "just one day," Martin said.

For the holiday season, so far, sales are down 10 percent, ShopperTrak reported.

ComScore reported on line sales dropped 4 percent to $10.4 billion from Nov. 1 through Nov. 28, compared with the same period a year ago, the Times said.

In another indication the retail season could prove disappointing, consumers indicated in a survey over the weekend they were, on average, 39.3 percent done with their holiday shopping. A year ago at this time, shoppers indicated they were 36.4 percent done, the National Retail Federation said.