Holiday Sales at Malls Up 2% Over Last Year

The International Council of Shopping Centers said specialty-store sales for the week ended Dec. 14 at the nation’s malls increased 0.6% over the same period a year ago. Shoe stores, whose sales rose 3.5%, were the best-performing category. Jewelry stores were next, with a 2.8% increase. For the holiday season so far, sales are up 2% over the same period in 1996, the trade group said. The results do not include sales at mall anchor department stores.