
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 2, 1995                   TAG: 9506020103
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RETAIL SALES STRENGTHEN

Business picked up for some of the nation's biggest store owners during May, as women showed their first real enthusiasm for clothes shopping in some time.

But overall results reported by retailers on Thursday were uneven, making it difficult to draw any conclusions from the month.

Industry analysts remained cautious about the coming months.

``We're keeping our fingers crossed,'' said Terence McEvoy, an analyst with Janney Montgomery Scott Inc.

Sales were sluggish early in May but strengthened as the month wore on, McEvoy said. ``As soon as it got warm, they kind of came into the stores.''

The improvement followed a disappointing first quarter, and for apparel retailers, a disappointing Christmas as well. Consumers have been cutting back purchases in response to the slowing economy.

They're not expected to go on any shopping sprees. On Tuesday, a widely followed survey on consumer attitudes by The Conference Board found Americans are losing some of their optimism about the economy.

The Salomon Brothers retail index, the investment firm's barometer of sales performance, rose 4.2 percent after a 7 percent gain in April and a 0.3 percent decline in March. In May 1994, the index rose 2.4 percent.

Here are results reported by some chains operating stores in Western Virginia. Comparable-store sales, which measure results only for outlets operating for at least 12 months, are considered the more valid measure of a merchant's performance:

American Eagle Outfitters reported May sales of $16.4 million, up 57 percent from May 1994, with comparable-store sales up 9.7 percent.

Family Dollar Stores reported sales of $132.8 million, up 18.8 percent; comparable-store sales up 9.1 percent.

The Gap reported sales of $276 million, up 14 percent with comparable-store sales down 2 percent.

Hechinger Co. reported sales of $216 million, down 8 percent with comparable-store sales down 8 percent.

Hills Department Stores reported sales of $112.6 million, up 1.3 percent with comparable-store sales down 1.8 percent.

J.C. Penney Co. reported sales of $1.40 billion, up 5.7 percent with comparable-store sales up 4 percent.

Lowe's Cos. reported sales of $620.7 million, up 21 percent with comparable-store sales up 4 percent.

May Department Stores, parent of Hecht's and Payless ShoeSource stores, reported sales of $929.7 million, up 9.1 percent with comparable-store sales up 3.2 percent.

by CNB