February Same-Store Results Up 0.4% Over January

Same-store sales at US apparel, department and discount retailers showed a slim improvement over January, posting a 0.4 percent gain for 35 retailers monitored by TNS Retail Forward, over January’s 1.4 percent decline. Discounter Walmart continues to lead the pack as one of the few chains to steadily report positive same-store sales posting a 5 percent increase in February, excluding fuel. Target declined by 4.1 percent.

Apparel and accessory store leaders Buckle and Hot Topic reported 21 percent and 10.8 percent increases, respectively, for February same-store sales. Underperformers last month included Abercrombie & Fitch with a same-store sales decline at 30 percent, followed by Gap at 12 percent, Limited Brands and American Eagle Outfitter both at 7 percent and Wet Seal at 6.6 percent.

Among major department stores, Kohl’s had the smallest decline in February same-store sales of 1.6 percent. Other retailers reported slides, too — Macy’s at 8.5 percent, JCPenney’s at 8.8 percent, Nordstrom at 15.4 percent and Neiman Marcus at 20.9 percent. Saks showed the sharpest same-store sales decline with 26 percent.

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