Sears Reports January Comparable Store Sales
Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) announced today that comparable domestic store revenues increased 0.8 percent for the four weeks ended Jan. 29, 2005. Total domestic store revenues were $1.61 billion for the four-week period in January 2005, up 1.7 percent compared with the four weeks ended Jan. 31, 2004.
"We were pleased with our sales performance in January," said Sears Chairman and CEO Alan J. Lacy. "Lawn, garden and patio had an exceptional month and we reported increased sales in tools and automotive. Flat-panel plasma and LCD televisions also had sharply higher sales for the month. In apparel, sales increases in footwear and accessories were insufficient to offset declines in other categories."
Specialty retail sales were very strong in January, with Sears Hardware, Orchard Supply and The Great Indoors all posting sales growth.
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Domestic Store Revenues & Comparable Store Revenues
(*According to National Retail Federation Fiscal Calendar.)
(**A store is considered to be comparable at the beginning of the 13th
month after the store is opened.)
Fiscal Period Ending Percent Change
January 29, January 31, All Comp
2005 2004 Stores Stores**
January $1,605,100,000 $1,578,800,000 1.7% 0.8%
Year-to-Date* $26,618,100,000 $27,290,700,000 -2.5% -1.6%
The company has made available by phone a recorded message on sales performance of its domestic stores for January 2005. The message can be heard by calling (847) 286-6111 and will be available for approximately one week.
About Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. With revenues in 2004 of $36.1 billion, the company offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the U.S. and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com and specialty catalogs. Sears is the only retailer where consumers can find each of the Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End brands together -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the largest provider of product repair services with more than 14 million service calls made annually.
SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
CONTACT: News Media Contact, Chris Brathwaite, +1-847-286-4681, or
Investor Contact, Scott A. Bohaboy, +1-847-286-7419, both of Sears, Roebuck
and Co.
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