Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. reported a consolidated store sales increase of 8.9% for fiscal February to $29.19 billion from $26.79 billion for the year-ago period. Wal-Mart store sales improved 5.6% to $18.56 billion, while Sam's Club sales increased 6.5% to $3.36 billion.


 

 

Comparable store sales for the four-week periods ending Feb. 29, 2008, and March 2, 2007, respectively, were as follows.
                            Four Weeks Comparable Store Sales

                     Without Fuel           With Fuel           Fuel Impact

                 2/29/2008  3/2/2007  2/29/2008  3/2/2007  2/29/2008  3/2/2007


    Wal-Mart

     Stores           2.5%      0.4%       2.5%      0.4%       0.0%      0.0%

    Sam's Club        2.8%      3.9%       5.2%      3.3%       2.4%     -0.6%

         Total U.S.   2.6%      0.9%       3.0%      0.8%       0.4%     -0.1%

Wal-Mart Stores


Comparable store sales during the four-week February period exceeded the company's expectations because of continued strength in the grocery, health and wellness and entertainment U.S. business segments. Sales trends in apparel improved when compared to the last several months. Softness remained in the home area, due in part to pullback in the housing market and the economy.


“We're very pleased with the way customers responded to our merchandise offerings and the ongoing 'save money, live better' messaging across our U.S. stores in February,” said Eduardo Castro-Wright, Wal-Mart Stores U.S. president and chief executive officer. “The comp sales results in our three largest businesses continued to outperform the market.”


February sales strength continued in key categories including food, flat-panel TVs, digital audio, video games and the pharmacy. Valentine's Day seasonal categories did well.


Sam's Club


For the February four-week period, sales at Sam's Club were driven by increased ticket for both business and Advantage members, with greater strength in the small business segment. Strong sales areas included dry grocery, consumables and video games. Home furnishing-related items and apparel experienced softer sales relative to other categories.


During the February period, a combination of higher gas prices versus the prior year and volume increases impacted comparable club sales by a positive 2.4%. Excluding fuel sales, comparable club sales were up 2.8%.


International


In the United Kingdom, ASDA's sales strengthened in February and exceeded management's expectations, with solid results from seasonal sales for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day events. ASDA's strong focus on rollbacks is proving very effective in a market where disposable income is down, with the rollbacks driving further growth in weekly customer traffic. ASDA's traffic has increased by one million in the February period when compared to February last year.


Wal-Mart Brazil continued its trend of solid comparable sales growth, with real comps in the high single digits. This was driven by double-digit comparable sales growth in our soft discount and cash and carry formats. Pharmacy and soft lines were highlights for the southeast and northeast regions. In the southern region, sales were strong in house wares, electronics and soft lines.


In Canada, the positive sales trend evident in the fourth quarter continued this period, with strong sales growth in electronics. Spring apparel and Easter goods are selling well. February sales were stronger in western and eastern Canada, with softness in Ontario, a province with more pronounced effects from the slowdown in the economy.


Sales at Wal-Mart Mexico were driven by increases in customer traffic at stores, clubs and restaurants. Superama and Sam's Club performed well, with the best overall sales performance occurring in southern and central Mexico. Suburbia and the VIPs restaurants continue to lag the rest of our formats in Mexico.


Guidance


“Comparable store sales without fuel for the March five-week period in the United States are estimated to be between flat and two percent,” said Tom Schoewe, executive vice president and chief financial officer. “With consumers increasingly concerned about their personal financial status and a higher cost of living, we will continue our commitment to price leadership across all categories.”


The March five-week period runs from March 1, 2008 through April 4, 2008.


Wal-Mart announced details yesterday of the opening of 81 new stores and clubs in the United States during March, representing more than one-third of the new stores and clubs the company plans to open in the United States during fiscal year 2009.