Sales momentum holds strong: 4.4% comps surpass expectations.

A stronger-than-expected surge in sales lifted the International Council of Shopping Centers' (ICSC's) tally of industrywide same-store sales for the month of October. Retailers generated a 4.4% growth in comps, led by teen-oriented chains. Of the 66 retail companies listed below, a full 77.3% reported positive comparable-store sales growth in the month. In the previous month, less than 60% of retailers tracked could say the same. According to Richard Hastings, VP and senior retail analyst of Bernard Sands, based in New York City, success for many chains in October was determined by three words: "merchandising, merchandising, merchandising. Retailers with the right presentation and right combination of fresh styles and promotions hit the jackpot," he wrote. According to the ICSC, the teen market showed a 12.3% gain in October, compared to a 9.7% gain in September. Looking forward, the ICSC expects November comparable-store sales to increase by about 3.5% on a year-over-year basis.

 
Company               Overall    Comp 
 
Abercrombie & Fitch     +41.0   +31.0 
Aeropostale             +16.5    -2.5 
American Eagle (2)      +22.7   +17.3 
AnnTaylor               +11.7    +1.2 
bebe stores             +10.5    +2.1 
Big Lots                 +4.8    +1.3 
BJ's Wholesale           +7.5    +2.9 
Bombay Co.               -2.8    +0.6 
Bon-Ton                  -2.2    -2.2 
Buckle                   +9.5    +4.3 
Cache                   +14.7   +11.0 
Cato                    +14.0    +9.0 
Charming Shoppes        +22.0    +3.0 
Chico's FAS             +31.8   +17.9 
Children's Place        +75.0   +13.0 
Christopher & Banks      +9.0    -2.0 
Claire's                 +9.0    +8.0 
Costco                  +12.0   +10.0 
CVS                      +7.8    +5.6 
Deb Shops               +13.3   +12.8 
Dillard's                +7.0    +8.0  ...