Lower Gas, Better Weather Boost Retailers' January Sales

Lower gasoline prices and improved weather compared with a year earlier helped retailers post same-store sales gains during the first month of 2015.

L Brands Inc's LB same-store sales increased 7 percent. The owner of Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body Works also raised its outlook, declared a special dividend and boosted its share buyback plan Wednesday.

Costco Wholesale Corporation COST, which sells gasoline as well as merchandise, posted flat January same-store sales on Wednesday, although excluding gasoline, U.S. comps increased 7 percent.

Discount retailer Stein Mart Inc. SMRT said Thursday that January same-store sales grew 6.6 percent.

Stein Mart said the Midwest, Southeast and Gulf States had the strongest sales in January, while the West, Northeast and Florida performed lower than the chain.

Tandy Leather Factory Inc. TLF said Thursday January same-store sales grew 9 percent at its 79 retail hobby stores open for more than a year.

Kirkland's Inc. KIRK didn't report January results, but the gift and home accessories retailer said fourth-quarter same-store sales, including e-commerce, rose 8.2 percent, compared with a flat performance a year earlier.

The specialty retailer and rent-to-own concern CONN'S, Inc. CONN said same-store sales for January increased 4.9 percent, versus an increase of 28.2 percent in January last year.

Sports apparel retailer Zumiez Inc.'s ZUMZ said comparable sales increased 12.3 percent for the four-week period ended January 31, compared with a decrease of 7.6 percent last year.

Discount women's apparel retailer Cato Corp.'s CATO January comps increased 14 percent from a year earlier.

The teen apparel retailer Buckle Inc.'s BKE said same-store sales squeaked up 0.8 percent in January.

Michael Kors Holdings Ltd KORS didn't post January sales, but on Thursday said third-quarter same-store results increased 10.9 percent. The luxury goods retailer also offered lower-than-expected guidance.