Passing Grade

Macy's Inc. (Cincinnati) reported total sales grew 3.7 percent to $1.7 billion for the four weeks ended Sept. 1, 2007, compared to the same period last year. On a same-store basis, Macy's sales were up 2.4 percent in August.

The report exceeds the company's previous estimate for August that same-store sales would be in the range of down 1 percent to up 2 percent. For the year, the department store retailer’s sales totaled $13.6 billion, down 0.3 percent from total sales in the first 30 weeks of 2006. On a same-store basis, Macy's year-to-date sales were down 0.6 percent.

For September, the company expects same-store sales to be down 1 to 3 percent. Last year's September included the Macy's nationwide brand launch.

Macy's operates more than 850 department stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the Macy's and Bloomingdale's nameplates.