Big Retailers Report Mixed Results for May

The nation’s major retailers Thursday reported generally mixed results for May, with some chains ringing up disappointing sales that contrasted sharply with April’s brisk overall performance.

Industry leader Sears, Roebuck saw its May sales increase only 2.2% from the May, 1986, level, to $2.262 billion. The weakness was largely due to the retailer’s mix of merchandise, Sears spokesman Ernest L. Arms said. About 65% of Sears’ wares are “hard goods” such as appliances and furniture, which generally were slower sellers in May than apparel and other items.

“We were very strong in apparel,” Arms said, citing record sales in women’s apparel during the month. He also noted strong gains in sales of refrigerators, freezers, telephones and air conditioners, the latter especially in the Northeast.

Los Angeles-based Carter Hawley Hale, which operates the Broadway Southern California and Neiman Marcus, reported that its sales for the four weeks ended May 30 were $262.8 million, up 8.6% from a year earlier.

Philip M. Hawley, chairman of Carter Hawley, said sales were helped by additional seasonal clearance markdowns.

Retailers that carry a large proportion of apparel were able to benefit as apparel sales were boosted by unseasonably warm weather in some parts of the country, analysts said.

No. 2 K mart said its May sales rose 8.2%, to $2.02 billion, contributing to a sales pace for the year 9% ahead of 1986, the retailer reported.

“K mart’s mix is good and we’re pleased with the quality of sales. We expect to see a pickup in the current sales pace as summer arrives,” said K mart Chairman Bernard M. Fauber.

Sales of lingerie, sleepwear, sportswear and general apparel helped boost

No. 3 J. C. Penney’s total May sales rose 11.2%, to $1.042 billion.

Strong sales were also reported for Mother’s Day gift items, led by cosmetics and fragrances, and for accessories.

Sales for Penney were generally strong throughout May and in line with expectations, the company said.

MAJOR RETAILERS’ SALES IN MAY

In millions Year % of dollars 1986 ago change Sears 2,263 2,213 + 2.2 K mart 2,020 1,868 + 8.2 J.C. Penney 1,042 937 + 11.2 May Dept. Stores 792 726 + 9.1 Federated* 799 750 + 6.6 Dayton Hudson 688 621 + 10.8 Wal-Mart Stores 1.281 952 + 35.0 Woolworth 290 273 + 6.2 Montgomery Ward 337 327 + 3.0 Carter Hawley Hale 263 242 + 8.6

* Excludes supermarket sales. Excludes foreign sales.