Retailers report strong June sales

Providing another sign of economic recovery, several U.S. retailers reported strong comparable store sales for the month of June.
Retailers reporting gains for stores open at least one year included: Costco Wholesale Corp. (up 14.0 percent); The Limited (up 12.0 percent); Saks Inc. (up 11.9 percent); The Buckle Inc. (up 10.8 percent); Kohl’s Corp. (up 7.5 percent); Macy’s Inc. (up 6.7 percent); Dillard’s Inc. (up 6.0 percent); Target Corp. (up 4.5 percent); J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (up 2.0 percent);  and The Gap Inc. (up 1 percent).
Kevin Mansell, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Menomonee Falls-based Kohl’s, said, "After a sluggish May, we are very pleased with our June results. The Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions – our most weather-sensitive regions – reported especially strong comparable store sales as weather turned seasonable in those regions. All lines of business reported positive comparable store sales increases."
The Bon-Ton Stores Inc., which has headquarters in Milwaukee and York, Pa., said its comparable stores sales slipped 0.9 percent in June, hurt by weak demand during the first part of the month.