Retailers Put Blame for Mediocre March Sales on Late Easter

Some of the nation’s big retailers today reported mediocre March sales due in part to this year’s later Easter.

The largest chain store reporting was discounter K mart Corp., which blamed the calendar shift for a so-so performance.

“Sales were strong in the first two weeks of March but, because of the later date for Easter in 1990 than in 1989, sales weakened in line with expectations in the latter part of the month,” said Joseph E. Antonini, K mart chairman and chief executive officer.

The retailers’ results were compared with March, 1989, when stores drew customers because of holiday promotions to push everything from spring clothing to candy. Easter fell on March 26 last year.

Several major mass merchandisers, such as Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., posted their March sales a week ago as did a few department store groups. Overall, those results were sluggish. The exceptions were the perennial star performer Wal-Mart and stores concentrating on apparel.