Fred's December SSS -4.2%

Fred's Inc.

today reported sales for the five-week fiscal month and 11-month year-to-date period ended December 29, 2012. Fred's total sales for the month declined 1% to $209.9 million from $213.0 million in December 2011. Comparable store sales for the month decreased 4.2% compared with a decline of 0.4% in the same period last year. Fred's total sales for the year-to-date period increased 2% to $1.782 billion compared with $1.747 billion in the same period last year. On a comparable store basis, year-to-date sales declined 1.4% versus an increase of 0.7% in the same period last year. Commenting on the announcement, Bruce A. Efird, Chief