The Bon-Ton Stores reported comparable store sales for the four weeks ended August 29 decreased 5.1% compared with the prior year period. Total sales for the four weeks decreased 4.8% to $197.0 million compared with $207.1 million for the prior year period.

Year-to-date comparable store sales decreased 8.7%. Year-to-date total sales decreased 8.2% to $1,450.8 million compared with $1,580.7 million for the same period last year.

Tony Buccina, vice chairman and president, Merchandising, commented, “We were pleased with our August comparable store sales performance, which exceeded our expectations. Sales of our private brand merchandise and expanded penetration of our incredible value program were strong contributors to our performance. We saw significant growth in our eCommerce business as we continued to make enhancements to our website. The best performing merchandise categories were moderate missy and special sizes sportswear, fashion accessories and ladies', men's and children's outerwear. Our weakest performing merchandise categories were furniture and hard home. We continue to effectively manage our inventories, resulting in a reduction in comparable store inventories in excess of 8% and fresher inventories as we enter September.”

Buccina continued, “We believe the Labor Day weekend shift from August last year to September this year will result in a later back-to-school business. Our children's, juniors, and young men's sales improved significantly in the last week of August versus earlier in the month, especially denim.”

Keith Plowman, executive vice president and chief financial officer, stated, “We ended August with excess borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility of approximately $166 million, well above the required minimum availability of $75 million.”

Bon-Ton Stores operates 280 stores, including 12 furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers nameplates and, in the Detroit, Michigan area, under the Parisian nameplate.