Sales rise 2% in Sept., fuel holiday concerns

10/11/2013

NEW YORK — Several retailers reported modest sales gains for September as shoppers worried about a partial government shutdown and the overall economy pulled back on spending.

The results increase concerns about how shoppers will spend for the crucial holiday season, retailers’ largest shopping selling period.

Revenue at stores opened at least a year rose 2.0 percent in September, according to a tally of 10 retailers by the International Council of Shopping Centers. That was a slower pace than the 3.5 percent increase posted in August.