July Sales a Mixed Bag

The month of July saw same-store sales improve for some retailers and come in weak for others, The Wall Street Journal reports. The month is typically soft, as retailers gear up for the back-to-school shopping season, but can serve as a gauge on consumer spending patterns.

Among the strongest sales leaders in July, Gap Inc. posted a 10 percent gain and Limited Brands Inc. saw comparable-store sales grow 12 percent. Mass merchant Target reported a 3.1 percent increase in same-store sales.

In the department store sector, Macy's same-store sales were up 4.1 percent, while Kohl's Corp. saw its first comparable-store sales growth in four months, posting a 1.7 percent gain. Looking at the luxury sector, sales were up 3.5 percent at Saks Inc. and 0.9 percent at Nordstrom Inc., The Journal reports.

Several retailers targeting teens struggled for the month including Buckle, which posted a 0.1 percent drop in same-store sales, and Wet Seal, reporting a 15.6 percent decline.