Federated Department Stores, Inc. reported total sales of $998 million for the four weeks ended July 31, 2004, an increase in total sales of 3.6% compared to total sales of $962 million in the same period last year. On a same-store basis, Federated's July sales were up 3.7%, within the 3% to 5% percent range that had been anticipated.
For the 13-week second quarter of 2004, Federated reported total sales of $3.550 billion, up 3.4 percent over sales of $3.434 billion in the same period last year. On a same-store basis, Federated's second quarter sales were up 3.3 percent.
For the year to date, Federated's sales totaled $7.066 billion, up 5.1 percent from total sales of $6.725 billion in the first 26 weeks of 2003. On a same-store basis, Federated's year-to-date sales were up 5.0 percent.
The company is reaffirming its same-store sales guidance of up 1.5 to 3 percent for the fall season, with sales in both the third and fourth quarters expected to be in that range. For August, the company anticipates relatively flat sales compared with last year, reflecting a Labor Day that falls later in the calendar this year.
Federated is slated to report its second quarter earnings on Wednesday, August 11th.
