US DATA: ICSC for Jan 21 wk: “Mixed weather patterns throughout the
U.S. weakened consumer demand this past week and resulted in weekly
retail sales slipping for the nation’s retailers. Overall for the week
ending January 21, 2012, weekly retail sales declined by 1.4 percent,
according to International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and
Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Index. On a year-over-year basis
retail sales held relatively steady at 2.8 percent. From the Northwest
to the Northeast strong winter storms affected consumer demand this past
week as it limited consumers’ ability to shop… In addition to the
mixed weather patterns, January is traditionally a low-seasonal sales
month for retailers so that pattern tends to produce more volatility
from week to week than in other months. The good news is that the
year-over-year results are holding relatively steady and remain
positive.”