More on sales performance

The notion of adding food to the product assortment at Target stores is working out pretty good. Comparable-store sales performance for the month of August was strongest in food with a low double-digit increase, and the increased customer traffic is benefitting other categories, such as healthcare and beauty where sales increased in the mid single-digits. Apparel is doing okay too as comps there were somewhat about the company average for the month of 1.8%.

Hardlines remains a tough sell as comps there declined in the high single-digit range, with the strongest performance in sporting goods and the softest performance in electronics, including video games, and in music, movies and books.

Comparable-store sales in home increased in the low single-digit range, led by sales in back-to-school categories, with the softest performance in decorative home.