WASHINGTON (MNI) – The following recaps major April and
quarterly same-store retail sales results reported Thursday, generally
weaker that forecast in April, widely blamed on the holiday calendar
shift, but stronger on a quarterly basis:
–TJX; +6%; 1st quarter +8%; Results “well ahead of expectations,”
and was “broad-based,” with U.S. business outperforming, driven by a
“significant increases in customer traffic.”
–Kohl’s: +0.2% for both the month and the quarter; “Warm March
weater and an early Easter, contributed to a decline in April’s sales.”
–Sak’s: +2.0%; 1st Quarter +4.8%; Strongest categories included
women’s contemporar apparel, and men’s accessories, shoes and
contemporary apparel.
–Nordstrom: +7.1% for the month, +8.5% for the quarter.
–Neiman Marcus: +6.7% in April; +17.5% for the quarter. Top
categories, women’s apparel and handbag, jewelry.
–Gap: -2% for the month, +4% for the quarter; Gap North America
+5%; Banana Republic North American +5%; Old Navy North America +4%.
–Macy’s: +1.2%; +4.4% for the quarter; Sales “met expectations.”
April sales “were planned to be weaker than in March, given the calendar
shift.”
–Target: +1.1%; +5.3% for the quarter; “strongest quarterly
comparable-store sales performance in more than 6 years.”
–Costco (Wednesday): +4% for April.
–editor: Denny Gulino 202-371-9464
** MNI Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **
[TOPICS: MAUDS$,M$U$$$]
