Retail Sales Bounce Back in April

U.S. retailers recovered from a challenging March with better-than-expected sales in April. Milder weather  across the country was a factor in improving sales, according to a report in Women’s Wear Daily.

The Buckle Inc. (Kearney, Neb) posted a same-store sales increase of 6.2 percent, more than four times the 1.5 percent gain expected by analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters.

WWD reports TJX Cos. Inc. (Framingham, Mass.) and Ross Stores Inc. (Pleasanton, Calif.) both surpassed expectations for advances of 6.8 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively, with pickups of 8 percent and 7 percent.

Expected to move ahead 3 percent during the month, Stein Mart (Jacksonville, Fla.) instead advanced 8 percent, with gains in every state except Texas and particular strength in the Middle Atlantic and Southeast.

L Brands Inc., previously known as Limited Brands Inc. (Columbus, Ohio), finished the month with a disappointing result as corporate same-store sales rose 2 percent, less than the 4.6 percent forecast by analysts, reports WWD. Increases of 2 percent and 4 percent at Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works fell short of expected gains of 4.4. percent and 5 percent, respectively.

American Apparel Inc. (Los Angeles) had a 3 percent increase in comparable sales, with a 4 percent increase in comparable-store sales offset by a 2 percent decline in online volume.