Saks reports 25.7% monthly comps increase

NEW YORK Saks today announced that owned sales totaled $347.6 million for the four weeks ended Dec. 1 compared to $275.3 million for the four weeks ended Nov. 25, 2006, a 26.3% increase. Comparable-store sales increased 25.7% for the four-week period.

On a year-to-date basis, for the ten months ended Dec. 1, owned sales totaled $2.6 billion compared to $2.2 billion for the ten months ended Nov. 25, 2006, a 16.5% increase. Comparable-store sales increased 14.5% for the ten-month period.

According to the company, its strongest categories for November were women’s shoes; handbags; fine jewelry; men’s accessories, shoes, and apparel; women’s “gold range” apparel; fragrances; and outerwear. The weakest categories at Saks Fifth Avenue for November were Salon Z (women’s large sizes), designer eveningwear, bridal, and cosmetics.