WASHINGTON, June 2 (UPI) -- U.S. retail sales rose slightly in the week ending May 29, the International Council of Shopping Centers said Wednesday in its weekly report.
Compared with the previous week, sales rose 0.6 percent. Compared with the same week a year ago, retail sales jumped 2.5 percent, the trade group said.
Sales were helped by warm weather that boosted traffic at apparel stores. Part of the sales picture included pent-up demand for summer items, as the week ended a five-week streak of average temperatures cooler than the same weeks of 2009.
The week was the third-warmest final week of the month in 18 years, Weather Trends International said.
Lower gasoline prices also helped spur spending. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported average gasoline prices for the week were nearly 6 cents lower than the previous week, with an average price of $2.728 per gallon.
