December 2008 Same Store Sales Figures: Complete U.S. Retail Industry Report

While same store sales figures are considered to be key indicators of a retailer's strength, the December, 2008 same store sales reports were particularly crucial for the retail industry and signal the changes that many of the top U.S. retailers will be forced to make in 2009. Because holiday season shopping accounts for 25 to 40 percent of total annual sales, many of the retailers with poor performance will be forced to curb expansion plans, close stores, and cut jobs in order to stay in business. For some major U.S. retail chains, the dismal 2008 holiday season will be their last.

This is a comprehensive list of the same store sales figures reported by major U.S. retail companies. The percentages reported for each retail company represent the change in same store sales in December 2008, when compared to same store sales figures in December 2007.

+13.5%   The Buckle, Inc.

+   12%   Aeropostale

+   10%   GameStop

+     6%   CVS Caremark

+     6%   Family Dollar Stores

+     5%   Conn's Inc.

+  4.9%   Walgreens

+  4.3%   Hot Topic Inc.

+     3%   Baker's Footwear Group Inc.

+  1.9%   Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea

+  1.9%   Toys 'R Us

+  1.7%   Wal-Mart

+  1.6%   BJ's Wholesale Club

+     .4%  CKE Restaurants Inc.

       0%   Children's Place

       0%   McDonald's

       0%   Fred's

       0%   Ross Stores

-     .2%   Rite Aid

-     .5%   Supervalu

-      1%   Kmart

-      1%   Tandy Leather Factory

-      1%   Urban Outfitters

-  1.5%    Kohl's

-      2%   Cato

-      4%   Costco

-      4%   Macy's

-   4.1%   Target

-   4.3%   Cost Plus

-   4.9%   Stage Stores, Inc.

-      5%   Dillard's, Inc.

-      5%   TJX

-   5.6%   Bed Bath & Beyond

-   5.8%   Bon Ton

-   6.3%   Duckwall-Alco

-   6.5%   Best Buy

-   6.8%   Finish Line Inc.

-   6.9%   Destination Maternity

-   7.3%   Sears Holdings

-      8%   Waldenbooks

-   8.1%   J.C. Penney

-   8.5%   Stein Mart, Inc.

-      9%   Victoria's Secret

-   9.6%   Gottschalks

-    10%   Limited Brands

-    10%   Pacific Sunwear

-    10%   Pier One

- 10.6%   Nordstrom

-    12%   Gap

- 12.3%   Zumiez

- 12.4%   Chico's

- 12.5%   Wet Seal

-    13%   Coach, Inc.

-    14%   Trans World Entertainment

- 14.4%   Borders Group

-    15%   Banana Republic

-    16%   Old Navy

- 16.4%   Signet Jewelers

-    17%   American Eagle Outfitters

- 19.8%   Saks

-    22%   Zale Corporation

-    24%   Abercrombie & Fitch

- 27.5%   Neiman Marcus

Compare these results to January, 2009 same store sales and February, 2009 same store sales.