Zumiez sales trends improve in October

Same-store sales for Zumiez improved in October from the negative double-digit comps the company has recorded for many months this year.

Sales at stores open more than a year, considered a key measure of a retailer's health, fell 8.9% in October. In October 2008, same-store sales declined 13.1%.

October's numbers fell below the average analysts estimate of a 6.7% decline.

Footwear posted modestly positive comps for the month, while every other category posted negative comps.

Same-store sales by week were:

1. Down 8.9%
2. Down 5.5%
3. Down 13%
4. Down 8.1%

Sales trends improved in the Western half of the U.S., with comp sales declining in the high-single digits. In the South, Midwest and Northeast, same-store sales dropped in the low double digits.

For the third quarter, same store sales declined 8% vs. a 5.8% decline in the third quarter of 2008.

Year-to-date, same-store sales are down 13.6% vs. a 3.2% drop during the same period last year.

Zumiez ended October with 378 stores.