Aug. Same-Store Sales Rise 3.6%

NEW YORK CITY-Retailers’ year-over-year same-store sales jump of 3.6%, according to an International Council of Shopping Centers report, was just under their year-to-date average increase of 3.7%. However, gasoline prices and unusually high temperatures for August held back potentially higher sales.

Last year’s August increase was only 1.3%, the poorest performance that chains turned in all year, so this year’s year-over-year comparison could have been strong. But record high gas prices and the 11th-warmest August in over 110 years held back their performance.

Wholesale clubs notched the industry’s strongest performance by sector, with a 7.8% increase. Costco led the way, rising 9%, followed by Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Clubs, which were up 6.6%.