July Same-Store Sales Increase 2.6%

NEW YORK CITY-Same-store sales rose 2.6% year over year in July, keeping in line with the growth in the retail industry over the last few months. However, individual sectors last month were more mixed, with certain types of stores performing stronger and others taking sharper declines, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers’ monthly survey.

Apparel fell 4.4% during the month, performing more poorly than in June, when those chains only dropped 0.5%. Gap Inc., sliding 7%, and Chico’s FAS, dipping 6.7%, took the biggest hit, but others were not far behind. Ross Stores, up 1%, was the only apparel chain in the survey to record a gain.

Department stores, which were up 2.8%, posted a gain compared to their 2.5% loss in June. J.C. Penney, a chain with negative results over the last three months, bounced back, shooting up 10.8%. Dillards posted the largest loss, a 6% slide, which was more than it’s year-to-date monthly average decline of 4.3%.