Mall Specialty Stores See Holiday Sales Rise

Holiday sales at mall-based specialty stores rose by 2.1%, the International Council of Shopping Centers said.

The industry association tracks sales at more than 4,000 specialty stores in 80 regional malls across the United States. The survey does not include sales made at mall-based department stores.

Apparel sales fell by 0.6%, but sales of home furnishings rose by 4.9% and home-entertainment products, including music and videos, rose by 10.9%.

The council’s annual sales survey supports other recently released reports that suggest retailers managed to modestly boost sales during a holiday shopping season marred by recessionary fears and consumer concerns generated by terrorist attacks.

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Greg Johnson