Monthly Same Store Sales Figures: Comparison of Top U.S. Retail Numbers for 2009

This is a comparison of the monthly same store sales figures reported by major U.S. retailers in 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 the same month in the previous year.

Monthly same store sales compare current sales with the same month in the previous year for all store locations that have been open at least a year.

Because these figures exclude any sales numbers from newly opened stores, which tend to be higher in the first year of operation, same store sales figures are considered to be a key indicator of a retail chain's sales stability, decline, or growth.

Complete 2009 Retail Industry Monthly Same Store Sales Comparison:

Abercrombie & Fitch
- 20.0%   -January
- 30.0%   -February
- 34.0%   -March
- 22.0%   -April
- 28.0%   -May
- 32.0%   -June
- 28.0%   -July
- 29.0%   -August
- 18.0%   -September
- 15.0%   -October
- 17.0%   -November
- 19.0%   -December

Aeropostale
+ 11.0%  -January
+ 11.0%  -February
+   3.0%  -March
+ 20.0%  -April
+ 19.0%  -May
+ 12.0%  -June
+   6.0%  -July
+   9.0%  -August
+ 19.0%  -September
+  3.0%   -October
+  7.0%   -November
+ 10.0%  -December

American Apparel
+  2.0%   -January
-   9.0%   -February
- 11.0%   -March
+  7.0%   -April
- 10.0%   -May
- 13.0%   -June
- 13.0%   -July
- 20.0%   -August
- 15.0%   -September
-   6.0%   -October
- 11.0%   -November
-   5.0%   -December

American Eagle Outfitters
- 22.0%   -January
-   7.0%   -February
- 16.0%   -March
-   5.0%   -April
-   7.0%   -May
- 11.0%   -June
- 11.0%   -July
-   7.0%   -August
-   7.0%   -September
-   5.0%   -October
- 11.0%   -November
+   7.0%   -December

BJs Wholesale Club (excluding fuel sales)
+  7.6%   -January
+  0.6%   -February
-   0.1%   -March
+  5.5%   -April
+  4.0%   -May
+  2.7%   -June
+  1.8%   -July
+  2.2%   -August
-   0.5%   -September
+  2.2%   -October
+  1.0%   -November
+  2.7%   -December

Bon-Ton Stores
-   8.2%   -January
-   8.5%   -February
- 11.2%   -March
-   5.1%   -April
- 12.1%   -May
-   8.0%   -June
-   9.8%   -July
-   5.1%   -August
-   0.5%   -September
+  3.1%   -October
-   6.0%   -November
-   2.6%   -December

Buckle, Inc.
+ 14.7%  -January
+ 21.0%  -February
+ 14.7%  -March
+ 18.2%  -April
+ 13.0%  -May
+  9.6%   -June
+  2.8%   -July
+  3.6%   -August
+  5.1%   -September
+  4.3%   -October
+  1.4%   -November
+  6.6%   -December

Cato
-  10.0%  -January
+  8.0%   -February
-   6.0%   -March
+ 18.2%  -April
-   3.0%   -May
-   3.0%   -June
+  3.0%   -July
+  5.0%   -August
+  6.0%   -September
+  0.0%   -October
+  0.0%   -November
+  7.0%   -December

Children's Place
-   11.0%  -January
-    3.0%   -February
-    2.0%   -March
+   5.0%   -April
-    9.0%   -May
-   12.0%  -June
-    3.0%   -July
-    8.1%   -August
+   4.0%   -September
-    5.0%   -October
-   13.0%  -November
+   4.0%   -December

Costco (excluding fuel sales)
+  4.0%   -January
+  0.0%   -February
-   5.0%   -March
+  5.0%   -April
-   1.0%   -May
-   1.0%   -June
-   2.0%   -July
-   0.0%   -August
-   1.0%   -September
+  4.0%   -October
+  0.0%   -November
+  2.0%   -December

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