WRAPUP 1-July sales struggle as tax rebate cash ends

* U.S. retailers post disappointing July sales

* Wal-Mart same-store sales rise short of Wall Street view

* Wal-Mart shares fall in premarket trading

By Nicole Maestri

NEW YORK, Aug 7 (Reuters) - U.S. retailers posted disappointing July sales results on Thursday as shoppers ran out of extra tax rebate cash and tentatively began their back-to-school shopping.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's largest retailer, said its July sales at U.S. stores open at least a year, or same-store sales, rose 3 percent, missing Wall Street expectations for a gain of 3.4 percent.

"With the end of the stimulus checks, we know consumers are spending more cautiously, and we continue to see a pronounced paycheck cycle at the end of the month," said Eduardo Castro-Wright, head of Wal-Mart's U.S. operations.

Shares of Wal-Mart fell 3.2 percent in premarket trading.

Retailers typically use the month of July to clear out summer merchandise and kick off the back-to-school shopping season, which is the second most important season of the year behind the December holidays.  Continued...