U.S. chain store sales fell in the third week of October, with sales being delayed by the summer like weather, a report said on Tuesday. Sales at major retailers rose by 3.1 percent on a year-over-year basis for the week ended October 23, up from the preceding week's 2.9 percent pace, said Redbook Research, an independent company. Sales in October so far were down 0.7 percent compared with September. "Some department store retailers said sales growth was being driven by clearance, rather than by full-price merchandise as fall apparel had been delayed by prolonged summer like weather," the report said. The Redbook data are compiled from a sample of same-store sales at general merchandise retailers representing about 9,000 stores. Same-store sales measure revenue at stores open at least one year.///