February retail sales dip nationwide — except at Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. continues to be one of the few retailers to see gains in sales, according to February sales figures reported Thursday (Mar. 5).

Retail analysts were predicting February same-store sales among U.S. retail stores to decline 1.2%, and 4.8% excluding Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart posted a February same store sales gain of 5% in its U.S. Wal-Mart stores and 2.1% in its Sam’s Club stores. Net sales companywide for the four weeks of February was $30.01 billion, up 2.8% over the same period in 2008. However, net sales at Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. during February was up an impressive 8.1%.

“We believe falling gas prices significantly boosted household disposable income in February and therefore allowed for both more trips and more spending towards discretionary categories,” Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman, Wal-Mart Stores, noted in a press release.

DILLARD’S
Little Rock-based Dillard’s Department Stores had a rough February, with same-store sales decreasing 13% and total sales of $497.68 million down 14% from the same period in 2008.

J.C. PENNEY
Same-store sales decreased 8.8% and total sales in February decreased 7.2%.

“Geographically, the best performing area of the country was the central region, while the southeast region had the weakest results,” according to a company statement.

TARGET CORP.
Target said its net retail sales for the four weeks of February were $4.373 billion, unchanged from the same period in 2008. However, Target’s same-store sales declined 4.1%.

“February sales were in line with our planned range for the month, as our sales results continue to reflect the significant economic challenges facing our guests,” Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president and CEO of Target, noted in a press release.