U.S. Retail Industry Comparison of October Same Store Sales Figures 2006-2009

Year-Over-Year Comparison of Monthly Numbers for U.S. Stores Open 12 Months

This is a comparison of the October same store sales figures reported by major U.S. retailers in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The percentages reported for each retail company represent the change in sales for stores open for at least 12 months, when compared to sales for stores open for at least 12 months in October of the previous year.

Very often the media, experts, and analysts draw conclusions about same store sales figure changes that occur from one month to the next in the same year. But same store sales figures do not measure month-over-month trends, so a same-year comparison is not valid.

The figures below will make a productive comparison possible for 2006 through 2009 in the month of October. This kind of year-over-year comparison is the only exercise that produces any kind of valid conclusions.

Comparison of October Same Store Sales Figures from 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009:

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF)
- 15.0%   -October, 2009
- 14.0%   -October, 2008
- 16.0%   -October, 2007
-   4.0%   -October, 2006

Aeropostale (ARO)
+   3.0%  -October, 2009
+   1.0%  -October, 2008
+   3.0%  -October, 2007
+   5.6%  -October, 2006

American Apparel
-   6.0%   -October, 2009
+ 22.0%  -October, 2008
+ 44.0%  -October, 2007
N/A

American Eagle Outfitters (AEO)
-   5.0%   -October, 2009
- 12.0%   -October, 2008
-   3.0%   -October, 2007
-   8.0%   -October, 2006

BJs Wholesale (BJ)
+  3.7%   -October, 2009
+   6.6%  -October, 2008
+   3.0%  -October, 2007
-   0.7%   -October, 2006

Bon-Ton (BONT)
+   3.1%   -October, 2009
- 11.1%   -October, 2008
-   1.4%   -October, 2007
-   9.7%   -October, 2006

Buckle (BKE)
+   4.3%  -October, 2009
+ 14.5%  -October, 2008
+ 20.3%  -October, 2007
+   1.7%  -October, 2006

Cato
+  0.0%  -October, 2009
+  4.0%   -October, 2008
-   8.0%   -October, 2007
-   5.0%   -October, 2006

Chicos FAS (CHS)
N/A
- 13.4%   -October, 2008
-   8.0%   -October, 2007
-   5.0%   -October, 2006

Children's Place (PLCE)
-   5.0%  -October, 2009
+  4.0%   -October, 2008
+  2.0%   -October, 2007
+ 10.0%   -October, 2006

Costco (COST)
+  4.0%   -October, 2009
-   2.0%  -October, 2008
+  2.0%  -October, 2006

Destination Maternity (Mothers Work - DEST)
-   5.2%   -October, 2009
+  6.0%   -October, 2008
-   3.9%   -October, 2007
+  1.7%   -October, 2006

Dillard's (DDS)
-   8.0%   -October, 2009
-   8.7%   -October, 2008
-   9.0%   -October, 2007
-   5.5%   -October, 2006

Duckwall-ALCO (DUCK)
-   0.9%   -October, 2009
-   2.7%  -October, 2008
+  0.0%   -October, 2007

Fred's (FRED)
+  0.4%  -October, 2009
+  1.3%  -October, 2008
+  0.6%  -October, 2007
-   2.5%  -October, 2006

Gap
-   6.0%   -October, 2009
- 16.0%   -October, 2008
-   8.0%   -October, 2007
-   7.0%   -October, 2006

More October Same Store Sales Comparisons...