October sales may be up 3% on cooler weather

U.S. retailers’ sales probably increased 3% in October as cooler-than-normal weather spurred apparel sales.

The gain at stores open at least a year is smaller than a 3.9% average monthly rise this year through September, and a 4.4% increase a year earlier, the International Council of Shopping Centers and UBS Securities said in a preliminary report. Department stores were “the standout sector,” while discounters suffered some weakness, they said.

From Bloomberg News

* Apple Computer Inc. plans to start selling the new iPod Shuffle this week after missing the October release for its lowest-priced music player. The $79 Shuffle will go on sale Friday, Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple said.