Macy’s, Inc. had total sales of $1.69 billion for the four weeks ended May 2, 2009, a decrease of 9.4% compared with total sales of $1.87 billion in the four weeks ended May 3, 2008. On a same-store basis, Macy’s, Inc. sales were down 9.1% in April. The company said these numbers were consistent with management’s expectations.


For the 13-week first quarter and year to date, Macy’s, Inc.’s sales totaled $5.20 billion, down 9.5% from total sales of $5.75 billion in the first 13 weeks of 2008. On a same-store basis, Macy’s, Inc.’s first quarter sales were down 9.0%.


Online sales (macys.com and bloomingdales.com combined) were up 14.5% in April and 16.2% for the first quarter of 2009 and positively affected the company’s first quarter 2009 same-store sales by 0.5 percentage points. Online sales are included in the same-store sales calculation for Macy's, Inc.


Macy’s, Inc. said it expects a first quarter net loss of 19 cents to 21 cents per diluted share, excluding restructuring-related costs. This is better than the company's expectations and current Wall Street estimates. Given the continued uncertainty in the macro-economic environment, management believes it is prudent to maintain its annual guidance for fiscal 2009 at the current level of 40 cents to 55 cents per diluted share, excluding restructuring-related costs. The company expects it will exceed this guidance if the economy improves in the second half of the year.