Sales in chain stores are expected to grow 8 percent during the month of holidays stretching from Rosh Hashana to the end of Sukkot, the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce said Sunday, on the basis of the average growth in sales over the past four years. In the month following the holidays, however, chain stores sales sank back down 9% on average in comparison with the previous month, the federation said. Food sales, for instance, rose an average 10% during the holiday month over the previous month, but then sank 10% on average the next month. Durable goods purchases (such as electric home appliances) did not grow significantly during the holiday period, but dropped an average 12% the month thereafter. House and kitchen wares rose 93% during the holiday period and fell 42% the month thereafter.