Retail sales edged up slightly in week

WASHINGTON, July 7 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States climbed slightly in the week ending July 4, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.

Sales were up 0.1 percent for the week and up 0.5 percent compared to the same week a year ago, the report said.

The week dominated by the Independence Day holiday was good for grocery store sales, as well as traffic in book and jewelry stores, ICSC said.

Discount stores saw "slight moderation in customer flow," while traffic in other sectors was mixed.

Weather patterns in the week were "neutral," while gasoline prices eased back for the second consecutive week, averaging $2.612 per gallon on July 6, the report said.

Gasoline prices have dropped 7.9 cent per gallons since June 22, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported.