Retailers see sales begin to recover in September

NEW YORK (AP) -- The nation's stores saw their first sales gain in 14 months in September, a sign of life from shoppers that fuels some hope for the holiday shopping season.

A late Labor Day and delayed school openings helped boost back-to-school sales in September. And stores' figures are looking better as they are compared last September when spending plummeted amid the ballooning financial meltdown.

But analysts dissecting the figures say they feel encouraged by today's reports even as they acknowledge that business still remains weak and consumers tight-fisted.

"Let the retail recovery begin," said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist at International Council of Shopping Centers. "This is the start of a better performance and better fundamentals."