National retailers released comp sale numbers for December

PacSun

Dec. comp sales: down 10 percent

Year-to-date comp sales: down 5 percent

Apparel comps: up 9 percent (88 percent of sales)

Juniors apparel comps: up 23 percent. Bullhead denim and tops were strong.

Guys apparel comps: down 2 percent. Strength in Bullhead denim, weakness in T's and fleece.

Non-apparel comps: down 61 percent (12 percent of sales).

No. of transactions: up mid-single digits

Avg. sale price: down mid teens

Inventories: Down 12 percent per square foot at end of Dec. vs. last year. PacSun will end the year with inventories down 20 percent, more than the high-single digit range previously forecast.


Liquidity: PacSun will end the year with $15 million to $20 million in cash and no direct borrowings under its credit facility.

Total stores: 937



The Buckle

December comp sales: up 13.5 percent - particularly impressive because they were up against a tough 18.7 percent comparison for December 2007.

Year-to-date comps: up 21 percent.

Girls total sales: up 26.5 percent, with strength in denim, knit tops, outerwear, accessories and footwear.

Girls price points: up 5.5 percent

Guys total sales: up 13.5 percent, with strength in denim, woven and knit shirts and outerwear.

Guys price points: up 11.5 percent

Footwear: up 8 percent

Accessories: up 20.5 percent

No. of transactions: up slightly

Avg. transaction value: up 8 percent

No of total stores: 388




American Apparel

December comps: up 3 percent

Fourth quarter comps: up 10 percent

Year-to-date comps: up 22 percent

No. of total stores: 260


Urban Outfitters

Nov/Dec comps companywide: down 1 percent

Urban Nov/Dec comps: up 3 percent



Anthropologie

Nov/Dec comps: down 6 percent



Free People

Nov/Dec comps: down 13 percent

11 months companywide comps: up 8 percent

Total No. of company stores: 293



Macy's

December comps: down 4 percent

Nov-Dec comps: down 7.5 percent, worse than the negative 1 to 6 percent forecast.

Year-to-date comps: down 4.6 percent.

Inventories: Ended December with inventories down 7.5 percent vs. last year.

Guidance: High markdowns will lead to lower gross margins. Macy's expects fourth quarter earnings of 90 cents to $1 per share vs. previous guidance of $1.10 to $1.30.

Macy's also said it would close 11 stores after its usual review of underperforming locations. Stores to close:

Ernst & Young Plaza (Citicorp Plaza), Los Angeles,
The Citadel, Colorado Springs, CO
Westminster Mall, Westminster, CO
Palm Beach Mall, West Palm Beach, FL
Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, Island of Hawaii, HI
Lafayette Square, Indianapolis, IN
Brookdale Center, Brooklyn Center,
Crestwood Mall, St. Louis,
Natrona Heights Plaza, Natrona Heights,
Century III Furniture and Clearance, West Mifflin, PA
Bellevue Center, Nashville, TN

No. of stores after closings: 808 Macy's and 40 Bloomingdale's for a total of 848.



Nordstrom

Dec comps: down 10.6 percent. Said holiday sales "exceeded expectations."

Year-to-date comps: down 8.9 percent

Strong categories: women's shoes and juniors apparel

Strong regions: South and Northeast

Inventories: Will be in-line with sales trends by end of year.

Guidance: Because of markdown pressure from competitors, the company said it will not meet its previous fourth quarter earnings guidance of 35 cents to 45 cents per share.

Total No. of stores: 169



Abercrombie & Fitch

Company-wide December comps: down 24 percent

Company-wide, year-to-date comps: down 13 percent

Abercrombie & Fitch December comps: down 24 percent

Abercrombie December comps: down 29 percent

Hollister December comps: down 24 percent

Ruehl December comps: down 26 percent

Guidance: The company said an impairment charge and a tax expense will lead to fourth quarter earnings significantly below the $1 to $1.05 per share guidance.

Total No. of stores: 1,121


ICSC chain store comps

December chain store sales dropped by 1.7 percent compared to 2007, and the November-December holiday sales period comps fell by 2.2 percent vs. 2007, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers survey released this morning.

"This was an extraordinarily difficult holiday season," said Michael P. Niemira, ICSC chief economist and director of research.

ICSC surveys sales at 36 national chains.

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