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Weekly Rise in Sales Less Than Expected

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Bloomberg News

U.S. retailers’ same-store sales rose less than expected last week as shoppers stayed home to listen to news of bombing and missile strikes in Afghanistan.

The 0.9% increase was less than the previous week’s 1.4% gain and the lowest since the week ended June 9, when sales rose 0.3%, according to an index compiled by Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd. and UBS Warburg.

Retailers reported weak customer traffic Oct. 7, when the U.S.-led military offensive started, the Bank of Tokyo said. Unseasonably warm weather in parts of the country hurt the sales of winter clothing, the bank said.

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Michael Niemira, Bank of Tokyo economist, said he expects October sales will exceed September’s 1.1% rise because October numbers won’t include store closings that occurred after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and because of costume and candy sales for Halloween.

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