U.S. retail sales slipped slightly in week

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States slipped 0.1 percent in the week ending Oct. 31, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.

Sales were up 1.9 compared with the same week a year ago, but down from the previous week as weather "turned less favorable in the final week of the month," the report said.

Shopping accelerated through the week as the consumers prepared for Halloween, the report said.

At $2.694 per gallon, the average price of unleaded regular gasoline has cut into discretionary spending, adding 22.6 cents per gallon in the four weeks to Nov. 2, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said.