The past week saw U.S. chain-store sales increasing by 2.6 percent, reports quote International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs, surveys. As per the survey reports, there is a looming worry amongst consumers about higher fuel prices, and its effects on the overall sales of the month, the sales so far have favoured the retailers. Also, the survey attributes the rise in sales to increase in employment and stronger consumer income.

The overall month’s comparable-store sales is expected to be ‘unimpressive with a reading of flat to up to 2 percent given that Easter occurs in April this year’, as per the survey.