Chile Santiago retail sales rise 1.7 pct in April

SANTIAGO, May 28 (Reuters) - Chilean retail sales in the Santiago metropolitan area rose 1.7 percent in April compared with the same month a year ago, the National Chamber of Commerce said on Monday.

The rate was lower than in March, when retail sales grew 2.0 percent compared to the year-ago month, but higher than in the first two months of the year.

Retail sales weakened across sectors in the month, the chamber said, with a contraction of 1.4 percent on an annual basis in sales of furniture.

Weaker sales were attributed in part to continued problems with a revamped transit system in the nation's capital.

Where it has faltered, the new system has caused commuters hours-long delays and consumers are less likely to use public transport to go shopping.