Rainy Days Dampen Retail Sales, Data Shows

Many retailers are reporting sharp sales declines for June, as rainy weather and escalating job worries kept consumers from buying summer staples like shorts and dresses.

As merchants report their monthly figures Thursday, the sales weakness appears to cut across all sectors, particularly apparel merchants.

Among the biggest early disappointments are results from teen merchant Wet Seal Inc., The Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. and Stage Stores Inc.

Even low-priced club operator Costco Wholesale Corp. is reporting a same-store sales decline from a year ago, when business was helped by stimulus rebate checks.

Same-store sales are sales at stores open at least a year.