NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Chain-store sales for the week ended Feb. 26 rose 3.3% from the year-earlier period, according to a survey released Tuesday by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs. On a week-over-week basis, sales dipped 0.5%. "Sales were choppy during the month with typical weather impacts that tend to get amplified in low volume months-such as February-and a calendar shift in the Presidents' Day holiday compared with the prior year," said Michael Niemira, ICSC's chief economist. "Overall, the month's trend performance was good and likely helped by an improving economy, despite some increasing drag from rising gasoline prices." ICSC forecast February same-store sales to rise between 2.5% to 3% when retailers report their results on Thursday.