RETAILING

October Sales Were Sluggish: Retail industry sales were spotty, rising only about 4% nationally, as consumers exhibited a continued caution that could presage a weak holiday shopping season. Sales of non-apparel items such as home furnishings were strong throughout the month, retailers reported, but shoppers shied away from clothing. Meanwhile, retailers with a large stake in the California market continued to struggle. Same-store sales (revenue from stores open the last 12 months) at Los Angeles-based Carter Hawley Hale Stores decreased 2.6%. The nation’s top discounter, Wal-Mart Stores, had an 8% increase in same-store sales. Rival Kmart had a sales increase of 1.4%.