Bon-Ton Stores 3Q Loss Widens

York, Pa., Bon-Ton Stores Inc. said Thursday its fiscal third-quarter loss widened due to unseasonable weather and a faltering economic environment.

The department store operator reported a loss of $19.4 million compared with a loss of $10.9 million a year ago. Total sales for the period ended Nov. 3 dipped 3% to $780.8 million from $804.1 million in the 2006 period, missing Wall Street’s estimate for $784.2 million.

The company said its Bon-Ton and Carson’s combined same-store sales fell 3% during the quarter.