Retail Sales Up a Weak 5.3% in June : Economy: Still, the news is better than some analysts had predicted and helps boost the stock market 38.75 points.

Heavy promotions and discount pricing helped boost sales for many of the nation’s big retailers in June, according to reports released Thursday, but the 5.3% overall increase was a weak showing given the deeply depressed retail sales in the comparable period last year, analysts said.

“Although retail sales have improved . . . they are not as strong as they should have been, given weather-depressed, year-earlier comparisons,” said Daniel Barry of Merrill Lynch & Co.

“We’re passing through a period of great uncertainty in the business community, as well as among consumers, which is clearly evident in these poor retail sales figures,” said William Ford, senior economic adviser for Telecheck Services Inc., which monitors payments made to retailers by personal check.

“We still have consumers facing the same old problem--a weak job market, shrinking earnings and concerns about the future of the economy,” said Sandra Shaber, an economist with Wefa Group in Bala-Cynwyd, Pa.

Still, Thursday’s results were better than some analysts had predicted, and the news helped send the Dow Jones industrial average up 38.75 points as some key retail stocks gained value. Sears, Roebuck & Co., for example, rose $1.875 to close at $58 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Some analysts said the discounting and promotions appear to have had a greater impact than expected.

“They hung out the half-price sale signs . . . and the customer obviously responded,” said Alan Millstein, publisher of the retail newsletter Fashion Network Report.

Father’s Day promotions helped Los Angeles-based Carter Hawley Hale Inc., parent of the Broadway, Emporium and Weinstocks stores, boost June sales 3.3%.

Among other department stores, May Department Stores of St. Louis reported a 5.7% increase in same-store sales, or sales at stores that have been open at least a year. Sears Merchandise Group reported a strong 12% increase in same-store sales. Apparel sales helped boost J.C. Penney Co.’s same-store sales 4.5%.

Overall, department stores saw an 8.6% increase for the month.

The discount store segment had an overall increase of 4.6%. Kmart’s merchandising group gained 4.7%, but the company said overall sales rose only 2.8% for the month because sales declined at its Pace Membership Warehouses and Pay Less Drug Stores Northwest.

Discount chain Target Stores, owned by Minneapolis-based Dayton Hudson Corp., reported a 6% gain.

Dayton Hudson’s Mervyn’s chain had flat sales this June compared to last year. Mervyn’s, with nearly half its stores in California, has been severely affected by the state’s economy. Among other discounters, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the nation’s largest retailer, said same-store sales rose 7%.

Specialty stores did only marginally better than in the first months of the year, reporting a 1.74% June increase.

Limited Inc. reported that same-store sales rose 4%, while Gap Inc. said same-store sales rose 2%.