Some Stores Post Gains Despite Storms in Feb.

NEW YORK — Despite ferocious storms in many parts of the country, a number of retailers reported decent sales gains in February.

Those with big same-store increases included Dollar General Stores, 15.3 percent; Sears Merchandise Group, 13.5 percent; Gottschalks, 13.4 percent; J.C. Penney, 10 percent; Carter Hawley Hale Stores, 9.7 percent; Kohls Corp., 8.7 percent, and May Department Stores Co., 7.8 percent.

The Gap showed a modest gain, with same-store sales up 3 percent and total sales rising 12 percent, to $185 million. The Limited reported flat same-store sales and a 6 percent increase in total volume to $422.2 million. Victoria’s Secret stores and catalogs continued to post strong gains, the company said, noting there was a sales turnaround at Express in the last two weeks of February and into March, although comparable-store sales at the division for February were down in the mid-single digits.

Sears racked up a 12.8 percent increase in total sales, to $2.2 billion. Strong sellers included women’s sportswear, fine jewelry, and cosmetics and fragrances, which were recently introduced in 22 stores. J.C. Penney reported overall sales were up 11.7 percent, to $1.2 billion. A spokesman for the company said outerwear, intimate apparel, Arizona jeans, jewelry and junior sportswear sold well.

May Co. comparable-store sales increased 7.8, with total sales up 11.3 percent to $686.9 million. The Neiman Marcus Group reported total sales were flat at $134.4 million. Same-store sales were also flat, dragged down by Contempo Casuals, where same-store sales plunged into the high teens. At Bergdorf Goodman’s main store, comparable-store sales were off in the low single digits, and the mail order business was off significantly, a spokeswoman said. At Neiman Marcus stores, comparable-store sales rose into the mid-single digits, and the mail order business was up in the mid-teens.

Federated Department Stores reported comparable-store sales inched up 1.8 percent, and total sales rose 3.6 percent to $484.2 million from $467.5 million. Allen Questrom, chairman and chief executive officer, said he was satisfied with the sales performance, considering the bad weather.

Dillard Department Stores’ comparable-store sales gain was also minute, 1 percent, while total sales rose 5 percent to $380.1 million from $362.3 million. Carter Hawley Hale reported a 9.7 percent same-store sales gain. Total sales were up only 2.3 percent to $129.5 million.