Sales Gain But Show Slowdown
Many of the nationÛªs large retailers posted record holiday season sales yesterday but gains reflected a slowdown in the rate of growth. Moreover, inflation accounted for some of the rise'.</br></br>20	per cent in the five weeks ended Dec. 29, to $481 mil: lion, and at a growth rat,e that topped NovemberÛªs .19 per cent rise. That brought sales in the 11-month period ended with December to -a record $3.04 billion for WardÛªs.</br></br>Executive vice president Sidney A. McKnight said cold weather, snow and the energy crisis boosted sales of tires, batteries, auto tune-ups, blankets, heavy outerwear, sweaters and heating equipment.</br></br>At Sears, Roebuck & Off., largest retailer in the nation, December sales volume was $1.87 billion, up 9.8 per cent from the same period in 1972, but slightly below a 10 per cent sales gain in November.</br></br>J. C. Penney Co., the second largest general merchandise 1 retailer, also posted a rate of gain in December that trailed both November and the full yearÛªs average.