August Sales Pace Slows at Wal-Mart

Bentonville, Ark., Wal-Mart Stores said August same-store sales at U.S. stores rose 3.3%, on the low end of its forecast range, as surging gasoline prices led shoppers to limit purchases to food and basic back-to-school merchandise. Same-store sales in July were up 4.4%. Sales of groceries outpaced those of general merchandise for the sixth month this year.