Lingering job and financial worries meant summer shopping sprees were put on hold for many consumers last month, leading to worse-than-expected sales declines at many of the largest U.S. retailers.

Nearly every sector, including department stores, discounters and apparel chains, saw sales fall in June, with clothing stores hit especially hard.

But retail analysts said that given unseasonal weather in June, plus rising unemployment, sales could have been much worse.