The BTM-UBSW weekly U.S. chain store sales index fell0.4% in the week ended March 24 from the prior week on aseasonally-adjusted, same-store sales basis, as retailersblamed the "weather drag" for lackluster salesperformance. The index fell 0.3% in the prior week. Year-over-year sales for the week rose 1.1%. The week endedMarch 24 marks the fifth consecutive week of declines andthe longest period of contraction since September 1999.