March same-store sales report

Overall March same-store sales were still down and were negatively impacted by Easter shifting into April. However, the good news is sales have not gotten worse.

Here's a summary of same-store sales results for industry customers and a few competitors. PacSun stopped reporting same-store sales in February.

Zumiez

Same-store sales: down 17.9 percent

Week 1: down 17.7 percent
Week 2: down 18.4 percent
Week 3: down 21.1 percent
Week 4: down 19.3 percent
Week 5: down 12.2 percent

Strong category: Footwear

Weak categories: men's, junior's and boys' apparel, accessories and hardgoods.

Regions: Stores west of Texas comped down in the negative 20 percent range.

The Buckle

Same-stores sales: up 14.7 percent

Total guys sales: up 10.5 percent
Strong categories: denim, knit shirts, active apparel
Price points: up 8 percent

Total girls sales: up 30.5 percent
Strong categories: denim, knit tops, active apparel, footwear, accessories.
Price points: up 6.5 percent

Guys and women's accessories: up 19.5 percent
Footwear: up 17 percent

Hot Topic

Total same-store sales: up 7.1 percent

Hot Topic same-store sales: up 10.6 percent, boosted by sales of "Twilight" DVD

Torrid same-store sales: down 5.9 percent

American Apparel

Same-stores sales: down 11 percent, the second tough month in a row for American Apparel. The company was also up against a difficult comparison of a 29 percent increase in same-store sales last March.

Macy's

Same-store sales: down 9.2 percent

Nordstrom

Same-store sales: down 13.5 percent

Strong categories: cosmetics and junior apparel

Strong regions: South, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic

Abercrombie & Fitch

Total same-store sales: down 34 percent

Hollister same-store sales: down 35 percent

Abercrombie & Fitch stores: down 32 percent

Abercrombie: down 37 percent

Ruehl: down 39 percent