Retailers Report Sales Gains

The nation’s major retailers reported today that retail sales picked up in October, when the companies aggressively promoted fall merchandise that had not sold in the previous month because of unseasonably warm or foul weather in various parts of the nation.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., the largest retailer, said its sales for the four weeks ending Nov. 1 edged up 0.3% over the same period a year ago. No. 2 K mart Corp. said its sales spurted 11.2% and third-ranked J. C. Penney Co. had an 8.7% gain. Sales jumped 42% at fast-growing Wal-Mart Stores Inc., ranked sixth.