Big 5 Sporting Goods 4Q Same-Store Sales Slip

El Segundo, Calif. Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. said same-store sales fell 8.6% in the fourth quarter as fewer customers visited its sporting-goods stores.

For the quarter, the company said sales fell 5.4% to $219.6 million, down from $232.1 million in the year-earlier period.

For the full year, sales fell 3.7% to $864.7 million, from $898.3 million last year.

Same-store sales fell 7% for the year.

Chief executive Steven G. Miller said in a statement that the company's three major categories performed well in the quarter, with hard goods the strongest, followed by footwear and apparel.

Miller said Big 5 is focused on controlling expenses and managing inventories. Per-store inventories ended the year about 11% lower than the previous year, he said.