RAPAPORT... U.S. chain-store sales rose 4.4 percent year over year during this past week, according to the weekly sales index compiled by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs. On a week-to-week basis, chain-store sales declined slightly, however. ICSC noted that discounters, department stores and apparel stores did well this past week.

Michael Niemira, ICSC's director of research and chief economist, said, "Overall, the pace of spending was somewhat more subdued this past week then in recent weeks. Still, the month — adjusted for the Easter seasonal shift — held up well, though the reported unadjusted numbers for April will likely be flat to down slightly after the 9 percent spike in March."