WASHINGTON, April 7 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States rose slightly in the week ending April 4, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.
Sales were up 0.6 percent for the week but down 0.3 percent compared to the same week a year ago, the report said.
Discount stores reported weaker demand but dollar stores "strengthened appreciably for the week," the report said.
Cooler weather and more snowfall than a year ago "generally was negative for sales" but the approach of Easter, which shifts in the calender year to year, made comparisons with same week in 2008 difficult, ICSC said.
A retail report on monthly sales is due for release Thursday. ICSC said it "expects March sales will be flat to down about 1 percent."
