ICSC salesin athletic shoe stores climbed 4.7% in Aug., which is the back-to-schoolseason for the U.S., and rose 2.6% in sporting goods/bike stores. The mallathletic chains are going up against unusually weak sales numbers from the yearbefore. Both segments outpaced GAFO sales in Aug, which fell 0.4% during themonth, but the Northeast and Midwest clearly outperformed the South and West inboth categories. Through the first eight months of 2008, GAFO sales were 1.0%higher. The data is compiled by the International Council of Shopping Centers(ICSC).