http://www.yahoo.com/headlines/current/business/stories/sales.html (Einblicke ins Internet, 10/1995)
CHICAGO (Reuter) - The nation's largest retailers Thursday reported sluggish sales for August as hot weather hurt demand for back-to-school merchandise, setting the stage for hefty markdowns this fall.
While some chains selling air conditioners, fans and lawn and garden merchandise posted modest sales gains, overall sales were weaker than expected.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., the nation's third-largest retailer, said same-store sales, or sales among stores open at least a year, rose 3 percent.
Top retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s sales rose 3.4 percent.
Kmart Corp., which ranks No. 2, posted a 2 percent rise.
Many department stores and specialty apparel chains had flat to sharply lower sales as consumers avoided purchases of fall and winter clothing.
A Dean Witter Reynolds index of same-store sales for August edged up 1.7 percent, well below the 3.0 percent increase that the firm had forecast.
Salomon Brothers said its same-store sales index was up 1.5 percent. This compares with a 4.9 percent gain last year.
Women's fashion chain AnnTaylor Stores Corp.'s sales fell 11 percent. Limited Inc., parent of Express, Limited and Victoria's Secret chains, posted a 6 percent drop.
Microsoft Corp.'s heavily publicized release of Windows 95 operating system boosted sales at some computer stores. Retailers are counting on the product to trigger steep gains in sales to consumers of new PC's and computer equipment to run Windows 95.
Minneapolis-based Best Buy Inc.'s same-store sales rose 14 percent, which was stronger than expected. The electronics superstore chain said the new Microsoft product, which went on sale August 24, helped bolster business for the month.
Spending will pick up when fall weather hits and consumers stock up on coats, jackets and heavier clothes, experts said.
But stores, already on edge because of early weakness in the key fall season, will begin marking down prices to move merchandise.