RETAILING

Weekend Holiday Sales Up: Sales at shopping centers nationwide rose 4.5% over the three-day post-Thanksgiving weekend compared to the same period a year ago, according to a report based on a survey of 85 malls. The New York-based International Council of Shopping Centers said the survey was based on sales receipts of about 5,000 specialty retail stores at the nation’s largest shopping centers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Shopping center department stores were not included in the study. Meanwhile, Visa USA said it recorded $1.9 billion in sales authorizations on Friday and Saturday, a 24.4% increase and a record for that two-day post-Thanksgiving period.