• May 9, 2008

TNS Retail Forward also reported that April's result is up from the -0.1% sales-weighted composite reported last month and up from the -1.5% composite reported in April of 2007, which was hurt by an Easter calendar shift.

"Some early tax rebate spending might even be among the factors propping up these results. Underneath it all, shoppers felt worse off in April and made another significant move to tighten their spending plans," said Frank Badillo, senior economist at TNS Retail Forward.

U.S. chain store sales rose by 3.6% on a year-over-year same-store basis, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc.

--Sarah Mahoney