Retailers reported disappointing September same-store sales as warmer weather and a difficult, year-over-year sales comparison negatively impacted results.
Of the companies tracked by WWD, the mass merchant sector delivered the strongest results, with a sector average of a 1.3 percent gain. Department stores showed an average decline of 1.7 percent while specialty chains were down 2.3 percent.
September is traditionally a month to clear out back-to-school merchandise and gear up for the holidays. Warm temperatures were tough on retailers, who had a product mix oriented toward cool weather apparel.
In the mass channel, the warehouse clubs helped buoy sales averages as BJ’s Wholesale Club and Costco posted comp gains of 3.9 and 4 percent, respectively. Target reported a 1.2 percent increase for the month, missing consensus estimates and its own downward revised guidance. Wal-Mart’s discount stores were up 0.8 percent.
In the department store sector Saks and Nordstrom reported positive comps growth of 7.7 and 3.2 percent, respectively. Almost all the other department stores posted declining numbers for the month, including Macy’s which was down 2.7 percent. Other retailers that reported negative same store sales included J.C. Penney, down 4.6 percent, and Kohl’s, which dropped 3.2 percent.
The specialty sector had its usual mix of strong and weak performers. Zumiez reported a 12.9 percent increase in September comps. Aeropostale was up 1.3 percent. Among other teen retailers results were weaker. Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle both reported drops, 4 and 2 percent, respectively. The Gap Inc. banners all reported declines as well, 10 percent at Gap, 8 percent at Old Navy and 2 percent at Banana Republic.