May Store Sales Rise

The delayed arrival of spring weather helped U.S. retailers meet and generally exceed same-store sales expectations in May, reports Women’s Wear Daily.

Victoria's Secret surpassed estimates of a 2.8 percent increase last month with a 4 percent comparable-store sales advance as parent company L Brands Inc., formerly Limited Brands (Columbus, Ohio), posted a corporate increase of 3 percent.

American Apparel Inc. (Los Angeles) reported that comparable sales were up 10 percent during the month, with a 37 percent increase in online sales somewhat tempered by a 7 percent rise in same-store sales.

Stein Mart Inc. (Jacksonville, Fla.) far exceeded analysts' estimates with an 8.2 percent increase for the month, quadruple the level expected. Women's sportswear results were strongest, with special sizes, accessories, men's sportswear and dresses “more challenged,” the company reported to WWD.

The roster of stores reporting sales on a monthly basis was diminished by the departure of the two largest off-price chains, The TJX Cos. Inc. (Framingham, Mass.) and Ross Stores Inc., (Pleasanton, Calif.) at the end of the first quarter of the calendar of the retail year. Both companies will now report comps on a quarterly basis, according to WWD.