NEW YORK - Consumers' frugal spending extended into a second month during July, giving many retailers lackluster sales gains, particularly mall-based apparel chains like Gap Inc.

Analysts attributed the disappointing sales to a variety of factors, including higher gasoline prices and the end of the mortgage refinancing boom. They said retailers should expect more of this downbeat trend going forward.

"I think it will be tough to sustain the increases," from the first half of the year, said Jay McIntosh, director of Ernst & Young's retail and consumer products industry group. He also cited consumers' lingering concerns about job security.

The preliminary International Council of Shopping Centers-UBS sales tally of 54 retailers was up 3.5 percent, in line with forecasts. The tally is based on what the industry calls same-store sales, or sales at stores opened at least a year. Those sales are considered the best indicator of a retailer's performance.

Analysts said apparel chains were hurt by cooler than usual weather in the beginning of July.

Gap had a 5 percent decline in same-store sales, much worse than the 0.8 percent decrease Wall Street forecast. Total sales fell 3 percent.

Talbots had an 8.8 percent decline in same-store sales, worse than the 0.3 percent forecast. Total sales were down 3 percent.

But teen retailer Pacific Sunwear of California announced a 6 percent gain in same-store sales, just short of the 6.2 percent forecast. Total sales rose 16.1 percent.

Among more traditional department stores, Kohl's Corp. recorded a 4.2 percent decline in same-store sales, worse than the 3.9 percent Wall Street forecast. Total sales rose 10 percent.

On the other hand, discounters had solid gains, not surprising given consumers' emphasis on frugality, and some high-end chains also did well.

Wal-Mart said it had a 3.2 percent gain in same-store sales in July, in line with the 3.1 percent forecast of Wall Street analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call. Total sales rose 10.9 percent.

At Target Corp., same-store sales were up 3.8 percent, better than the 2.8 percent gain that Wall Street projected. Total sales were up 8.8 percent.

Upscale Neiman Marcus reported a 16.6 percent gain in both same-store sales and total sales. Wall Street anticipated an 8.8 percent gain in same-store results.

Federated Department Stores Inc. posted a 3.7 percent increase in same-store sales, below Wall Street's forecast of 5.4 percent but in line with company expectations. Total sales rose 3.6 percent.

May Department Stores Co. had a 5.5 percent decline in same-store sales, below the 2.4 percent analysts anticipated. Total sales were down 5.3 percent.