The locally based retailer, which operates 373 stores in 44 states primarily under the Burlington Coat Factory name, said earnings for the 13-week period ended Dec. 2 dropped $33.7 million to $11.7 million, down from $45.4 million in the second quarter of 2005. The results included $37.2 million in depreciation costs, $35.2 million in interest expenses and $12 million in amortization. If adjusted for all merger related costs, net income would have been $54.1 million, the company said.

Total revenue rose nearly 5% to $996.9 million during the quarter, an increase compared with the $953.9 million in revenue recorded during the same period last year. Sales increased by 4.2% or $39.4 million during the 13-week period with stores opened during the first six months of 2006 contributing $26.6 million to that figure. Sales at comparative stores dropped 2.4%, due largely to warmer October and November weather throughout most of the country, Robert LaPenta, the company's vice president and treasurer, said.

"Net sales for the second quarter were disappointing and fell short of our expectations," LaPenta said during a conference call with analysts, adding that the unseasonably warm weather was "a significant contributor" to the drop in comparative store sales.