Retail sales down slightly in week

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Retail sales in the United States declined slightly in the week ending Sept. 6, the International Council of Shopping Centers-USB reported Tuesday.

Sales were off 0.1 percent in a week that included the Labor Day holiday and "disruptions from Hurricane Gustav and attention-grabbing political convention events," the report said.

The distractions "shifted the consumers' focus from shopping," the report said.

Shopping was down at most outlet categories except dollar stores, wholesale clubs and electronic outlets during the week.

Easing some consumers' spending anxiety was the ninth straight week of falling prices at the gas pump. Average prices for regular unleaded fell by 3.2 cents to $3.648 cents per gallon, down 46.6 cents from nine weeks ago, the report noted.