Dillard's sales down 5% in July

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Dillard's announced today that sales for the four weeks ended Aug. 4 were $500 million compared to sales for the four weeks ended July 29, 2006 of $528 million. Total sales decreased 5% for the four-week period. Sales in comparable-stores decreased 6%.

Sales for the thirteen weeks ended Aug. 4 were $1.6 billion compared to sales for the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2006 of $1.7 billion. Total sales declined 2% for the thirteen-week period. Sales in comparable-stores declined 3%.

Sales for the 26 weeks ended Aug. 4 were $3.4 billion compared to sales for the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 of $3.5 billion. Total sales declined 3% for the 26-week period. Sales in comparable-stores declined 4%.

During the four weeks ended Aug. 4, sales in the Western region were above the company's average sales performance for period. Sales were slightly above trend in the Central region and below trend in the Eastern region.

During the four weeks ended Aug. 4, the sales performance trend in cosmetics was significantly better than the average total trend for the company. Sales of juniors' and children's clothing were significantly below trend.