NEW YORK, Nov 23 - U.S. chain store retail sales rose as consumers began their holiday shopping lifting annual sales growth to it highest level since early July, a report said on Tuesday.
Sales rose 0.8 percent in the week ended Nov. 20, compared with a decline of 0.4 percent in the previous week, the International Council of Shopping Centers and UBS said in a joint report. Compared with the same week a year ago, sales gained strength at 3.9 percent.
"About two-thirds of households have started their holiday shopping so far, but less than 5 percent have completed it," said Michael Niemira, ICSC's chief economist and director of research.
The ICSC-UBS Weekly Chain Store Sales Snapshot is compiled from a group of major discount, department and chain stores across the country that report their weekly results.