IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
National retail sales stayed strong last week, boosted in part by more back-to-school shopping.
Sales were up 4.2 percent for the week that ended Saturday compared with the same week in 2013, according to The International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Index.
Retail activity was also up 0.6 percent compared with the previous week, according to the index, which was released Tuesday.
Business was strong in all sectors, particularly at wholesale stores, clothing stores, discount houses and furniture stores, said Michael Niemira, research consultant for the New York-based council.
Sales for this month are expected to top Aug. 2013 by four to five percent. That would be a notable improvement compared with the 3.6 percent year-over-year gain recorded one year ago, Niemira said.
Final numbers for August are scheduled to be released Sept. 4.
