Retailers' back-to-school sales may get passing grade after all

It looks like once it's all said and done, this year's back to school shopping season won't be the debacle it looked like in August. As the weather turned colder and the first day of school loomed, sales appear to have perked up.

The International Council of Shopping Centers reported Wednesday sales at chain stores were basically flat for the week ending Sept. 5, down only 0.1 percent from a year earlier. Compared with the week before, sales were up 0.6 percent.