Shoppers fill a Best Buy store in Chicago Nov. 23, 2007.U.S. retailers' sales rose modestly by 3.6 percent in the current holiday shopping from Nov. 23 to Dec. 24, according to data released on Tuesday by MasterCard.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. retailers' sales rose modestly by 3.6 percent in the current holiday shopping from Nov. 23 to Dec. 24, according to data released on Tuesday by MasterCard.

    Target Corporation, the second largest retailer in the nation, said that sales had been lacklustre.

    Women spent less on apparel during the holiday, which saw a 2.4 percent down or the biggest casualty, according to Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis at MasterCard Advisors.

    Even prior to the Christmas season, women were buying lesser clothes, added McNamara.

    The rise of gasoline pump prices and higher food prices also discouraged Americans from consuming during the last two months of the year, according to the National Retailer Federation.

    The federation adds that November and December sales may still rise by 4 percent, but it is still the slowest growth registered since 2002.

    Last year's holiday season grew 6.6 percent over 2005's holidays. Two years ago, retail sales grew 8 percent from the previous year, MasterCard said.

    (Agencies)