PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. clothing and accessory retailers Thursday posted rising same-store sales for August.
Dress Barn Inc. increased its August sales by 7 percent and bebe stores inc. jumped 25.5 percent. Sales at Stage Stores Inc. climbed 15.8 percent.
Less dramatically, Claire's Stores Inc. said comparable store sales rose 1 percent and Mothers Work Inc.'s sales for August 2006 increased about 5 percent. Meanwhile, New York & Co. Inc. posted a 5.3-percent gain and Wet Seal Inc. was up 8.7 percent.
Gottschalks Inc.'s same-store sales fell 1.1 percent.
Overall, Thomson First Call expects August same-store sales growth to be slightly less than last August's 3.6-percent advance, MarketWatch reported.
"Despite worries of rising interest rates and higher energy and gasoline prices the consumer remains robust," analysts from the service said.