Retail sales rise during week

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States rose slightly in the week ending Jan. 3, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.

Sales were up 1.4 percent "largely offsetting the prior week's dip," which had dropped 1.5 percent, the report said.

Compared with the same week a year ago sales dropped 0.8 percent.

"Traffic slowed seasonally, but post-Christmas bargain hunting continued," the report said.

Warmer temperatures -- 4.2 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the same week a year ago -- helped bring consumers out of their houses. In addition, "consumer budgets continue to benefit from the lower pump prices," the report said.

However, the average price of gasoline nationally gained for the first week since Sept. 15, rising 7.1 cents.

Still assessing the holiday retail season, the report said 26 percent of respondents in a survey indicated they spent less this year during the holidays, compared with a year ago, and 24 percent indicated they spent "much less."

Twenty-one percent of respondents indicated they went shopping Dec. 26 with 63 percent of those chasing bargains, the report said.