RETAILING

Strong Showing in September: U.S. retailers’ sales for the month rose 2.4% from August, hitting a record high, as chain stores and discounters posted strong results in the fifth week of the month, according to a survey by Johnson Redbook Service. Compared to September, 1992, retail sales at more than 20 department, discount and chain stores for the five weeks ended Oct. 2 rose 10.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the service, a unit of the investment firm Lynch, Jones & Ryan. Sales in September totaled $17.15 billion, up from $16.75 billion in August. For the five weeks ended Oct. 2, sales rose 10.6% from the year-ago period, an increase over the 9.8% gain made in the fourth week.