The money rolls in for Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported mostly good news this morning with its third-quarter financial earnings release.

The Bentonville-based retailer posted third-quarter sales of $97.63 billion, up 7.5 percent over the $90.82 billion in the 2007 period. Net income in the quarter was $3.13 billion, up almost 10 percent over the same quarter in 2007.

For the first nine months of 2008, Wal-Mart sales totaled $293.24 billion, up 9.4 percent over the same period in 2007. Net income in the nine months was $9.6 billion, up an impressive 11.2 percent.

Company officials credited the strong earnings with a poor economy that is driving more consumers to its low-price offerings.

The company also improved its cash position, which also is impressive in this economy. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first nine months of the company’s fiscal year was $5.92 billion, up 6.7 percent over the same period in 2007.

The only downside to the report was a lowering of earnings guidance for the year. Wal-Mart now expects earnings per share from continuing operations of $3.42 to $3.46, compared with its prior guidance of $3.43 to $3.50.