Retailers Report Modest Gains

Major U.S. retailers today reported modest gains in September sales, a disappointing performance that analysts blamed on unseasonably warm weather, high consumer debt and aggressive marketing by American auto makers.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., the largest, said sales for the five weeks ending Oct. 4 edged up 0.7% over a year ago. No. 2 K mart Corp. said sales rose 8.2%, and third-ranked J. C. Penney Co. posted a 5.7% gain.