Week shows slight retail gains

Receipts at U.S. retail stores rose 0.1 percent in the week ending last Saturday, the International Council of Shopping Centers said Tuesday. Sales receipts rose 3.6 percent from the same week a year earlier and 0.1 percent week-to-week, the trade group said. Business improved "markedly" for discount stores through the week after a downturn the previous week. Weather Trends International said the week was marked by "very mild" temperatures that were a positive influence, except where coupled with "exceptionally wet weather," which is viewed as a negative for shopping. Meanwhile, fuel prices rose by 5.9 cents in the week to an average of $3.476 per gallon after dropping for five consecutive weeks. Copyright 2011 United Press International, Inc. (UPI). Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.