NEW YORK - After showing signs of improvement in early fall, sales of clothing and luxury goods weakened a bit the first half of November, compared with a year ago, when stores pulled shoppers in with massive discounts, figures released Tuesday show.

Electronics sales have grown solidly this month, however, compared with the first half of November last year, when stores didn't discount electronics as much.

And online sales, where growth had slowed this year, are roaring back.

"It was a little bit softer," said Michael McNamara, vice president at SpendingPulse, referring to the weak apparel and luxury figures.

He cautioned against comparing the first half of November this year and last very closely:

"When you think about the discounts last year, they were broad-based emergency discounting."

Last year's discounts encouraged consumers to spend more early in the holiday shopping season than this year's more restrained - though ubiquitous - promotions.

"While there are some great deals, retailers are in a much better position and are more strategic with their discounting," McNamara added.

SpendingPulse found that sales of women's clothing fell 3.3 percent; sales at department stores fell 7.1 percent; footwear sales slipped 1.5 percent; and men's apparel sales dipped 1 percent for the period from Nov. 1 to Nov. 14

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