Foot Locker sales for the 13-week period ended April 30, 2005 were $1.377 billion, versus $1.186 billion in the comparable period last year, an increase of 16.1%. Comparable store sales for the Company's 2005 first quarter increased 2.6%. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales for the 13-week period increased 14.5%.
“Our first quarter comparable-store sales reflected a mid-single digit increase in our U.S. business, led by a strong increase by our Champs Sports division,” stated Matthew D. Serra, Foot Locker, Inc.'s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Sales in our Foot Locker Europe business declined mid-single digits, reflecting weak consumer confidence and an increased competitive environment in that region. In total, our first quarter comparable-store sales were in line with our previous guidance. We currently expect our 2005 first quarter earnings per share to increase 15-to-20 percent versus the first quarter of 2004.”
