Nordstrom, Inc. reported January same-store sales decreased 6.6 percent and total sales decreased 20.3 percent. Sales fell to $486.3 million for the four-week period ended February 2, 2008, compared to sales of $610.1 million for the five-week period ended February 3, 2007. The company noted that the 2006 fiscal calendar had 53 weeks compared to the company's normal operating calendar of 52 weeks. As a result, both the previous January sales period and the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 had one additional week compared to the same periods in fiscal 2007. Excluding the extra week of sales in January of fiscal 2006 for comparative purposes, January total sales decreased 1.2% in fiscal 2007. The extra week does not affect same-store sales calculations. Preliminary 2007 fourth quarter sales were $2.51 billion compared to 2006 fourth quarter sales of $2.63 billion. Fourth quarter same-store sales decreased 0.7 percent and total sales decreased 4.4 percent. Excluding the extra week of sales in the fourth quarter of 2006, total sales were flat in the fourth quarter of 2007. Preliminary fiscal year 2007 sales were $8.83 billion compared to fiscal year 2006 sales of $8.56 billion. Fiscal 2007 same-store sales increased 3.9 percent and total sales increased 3.1 percent. Excluding the extra week of sales in fiscal 2006, total sales increased 4.6% in fiscal year 2007.
