Saks comps improve, Dillard still suffers

NEW YORK, N.Y. and LITTLE ROCK, Ark Saks and Dillard’s report increased net sales for the month of October.

Saks announced that owned sales totaled $219.8 million for the four weeks ended Oct. 31 compared with $216 million for the four weeks ended Nov. 1, a 1.8% increase. Comparable-store sales increased 0.7% for the month.

For third quarter ended Oct. 31, owned sales totaled $622.7 million compared with $682 million for third quarter ended Nov. 1 the year prior, an 8.7% decrease. Comparable-store sales decreased 10.1% for the quarter.

On a year-to-date basis, for the nine months ended Oct. 31, owned sales totaled $1.79 billion compared with $2.18 billion for the nine months ended Nov. 1 the year prior, a 17.5% decrease. Comparable-store sales decreased 18.5% for the nine-month period.

Management continues to estimate that comparable-store sales will decline in the mid-to-high single digit range in the aggregate for the second half fiscal 2009.

Dillard’s announced that sales for the four weeks ended Oct. 31 were $361.69 million compared with sales for the four weeks ended Nov. 1 the year prior of $406.05 million. Total sales decreased 11%. Sales in comparable-stores decreased 8% for the four-week period.

Sales for the 13 weeks ended Oct. 31 were $1.31 billion compared with sales for the 13 weeks ended Nov. 1 the year prior of $1.48 billion. Total sales decreased 11%. Sales in comparable-stores decreased 9% for the 13-week period.

Sales for the 39 weeks ended Oct. 31 were $4.1 billion compared with sales for the 39 weeks ended Nov. 1 the year prior of $4.76 billion. Total sales decreased 14%. Sales in comparable-stores decreased 12% for the 39-week period.