Federated Gains in December

Federated Department Stores Inc. (Cincinnati) reported a 0.4 percent increase in total sales for the five weeks ended Jan. 3, 2004. Same-store sales were up 1.2 percent.

For the 48-week year to date, Federated's sales are down 1.4 percent and same-store sales are down 1.2 percent.

President and ceo Terry Lundgren said the company was pleased with its December sales performance, which slightly exceeded the high end of prior guidance (which anticipated a range of down 1 percent to up 1 percent). He said sales were stronger than anticipated in the last two weeks of the month, which more than offset the impact of snowfalls in the Northeast during the first two weeks of December.

Lundgren said the company expects same-store sales for January to be again in the range of up 1 percent to down 1 percent.