Stein-Mart, Inc. reported same stores sales for Dec. slipped 2% on total sales that fell 4.4% from $178.0 million a year ago to $170.2 million.









































Total Sales (in millions)

Percent Change



Total

Comparable

Fiscal period

2009

2008

Sales

Store Sales

December (5 weeks)

$ 170.2

$178.0

(-4.4)%

(-2.0)%

Quarter-to-date (9 weeks)

$278.0

$296.8

(-6.3)%

(-4.1)%

Year-to-date (48 weeks)

$1,155.3

$1,259.4

(-8.3)%

(-5.8)%


 

Ladies' casual sportswear, ladies' accessories, and the home area posted positive comparisons during Dec., while the most difficult business was ladies' career fashion. The Company's stores in the Mid-West had the strongest sales performances during the month, while those along the Gulf Coast and in the Mid-Atlantic were weaker, particularly where severe winter weather occurred. 

“Although December started slowly, we were pleased with the acceleration of business as we approached Christmas, even with the adverse weather in certain markets the weekend before the holiday,” noted David H. Stovall, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Stein Mart, Inc.


There were 267 stores in operation at Jan. 2, 2010 as compared to 278 at the same time last year.