The International Council of Shopping Centers said on Tuesday that U. S. retail sales rose in the week, climbing with the largest weekly gain since early April.

In the week ending June 26, sales rose 2.1 percent from the previous week and 3 percent compared with same week a year ago.

It was the fifth consecutive week of increasingly warmer weather compared to a year ago and compared to national averages, said Weather Trends International.

"Heat and humidity were oppressive" in the East in the final week of June, the hottest fourth week for the month in 20 years, WTI further said. But that led shoppers to purchases of summer gear.

ICSC further said that the weather kept demand "strong for fans, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, beverages, ice cream snacks, summer apparel, suncare, etc.." (With Inputs from Agencies)