Drop of nearly 9 points sets Conference Board index at lowest point of year.
Department and apparel stores continue to battle challenging trends.
Retail Economist expects back-to-school sales to expand 2.1 percent, with strength in footwear.
Weekly sales up 2.7 percent year-on-year and 2.2 percent from prior week, according to The Retail Economist LLC and Goldman Sachs.
Department, apparel stores remain in shadow of home retailers.
Sequential trend down 2.7 percent while year-on-year results up 2.1 percent, according to The Retail Economist and Goldman Sachs.
Furniture stores remain strong as both sequential and year-on-year sales up in weekly report by The Retail Economist and Goldman Sachs.
Furniture and other home-related retailers continue to register best results in weekly tabulation of sales.
Home-related retailers shine while apparel and electronics show weakness.
Softness at apparel specialty stores noted in report.
Year-on-year trend is up 3% while sequential results decline 0.7%.
Sales flat from prior week, up 1.8 percent versus 2014 counterpart.