Retailers of discounted merchandise flourished during June, while full-price stores suffered in the summer heat. America's Research Group's Consumer Buying Index found shoppers intent on buying bargains, with 86.2% shopping discount stores like Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target during June.

"All the discount categories did well in June, indicating that shoppers were serious about finding bargains," said Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group. "Consumers were simply not in the mood for high dollar purchases as indicated in the drop in the appliance/electronics/computer category," he added.

The Consumer Mind Reader survey was conducted July 8-11, 2005, and included 1,000 telephone interviews with consumers nationwide. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.3%.