The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. today announced comparable store sales for the four weeks ended July 31, 2010 decreased 0.3%. Total sales for the four weeks decreased 0.6% to $177.6 million compared with $178.8 million for the prior year period.


For the second quarter of fiscal 2010, comparable stores sales increased 0.2%. Total sales for the thirteen weeks ended July 31, 2010 decreased 0.1% to $608.6 million compared with $609.2 million for the prior year period.


Year-to-date comparable store sales increased 1.6%. Year-to-date total sales increased 1.3% to $1,270.0 million compared with $1,253.8 million for the same period last year.


Tony Buccina, Vice Chairman and President – Merchandising, commented, “A strong finish to the month contributed to July sales exceeding our plan. However, heavy rains in the Midwest and a much warmer weather trend negatively impacted sales mid-month. Our best performing businesses were ladies’ shoes, better, moderate and petite sportswear, intimate apparel, men’s sportswear and jewelry at all price points. Our weaker performing businesses were children’s, juniors, furniture and soft home. We continue to strategically manage our inventory, ending the quarter with comparable store inventory down 1.6% and clearance inventory down 5.8%, driving quality merchandise sales. We enter fall with inventory well-positioned and tied to our merchandise strategy.”


Keith Plowman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, stated, “We ended July with excess borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility of approximately $391 million, well above the required minimum availability of $75 million.”