For one week, retailers get an “A”

Back-to-school shoppers gave U.S. retailers a large boost last week.

National retail sales were up 4.6 percent for the week ending Saturday compared with the same week in 2013, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Stores Sales Index.

Sales were up a modest 0.2 percent compared with the previous week, according to the index, which was released Tuesday.

“There was impressive strength in business for department, apparel, and electronic stores, which were all helped by back-to-school shopping.” said Michael Niemira, research consultant for the council, in a statement.

The council is now predicting a 4 percent increase in sales for July, which is the high end of its original forecast for the month, Niemira said.