Dismal December

NEW YORK – Retailers reported dismal sales figures for December on Thursday as even Wal-Mart Stores Inc., one of the bright spots in the industry, finally buckled under the pressures of the deteriorating economy.

As the figures confirmed fears that the holiday season was the weakest since at least 1969, the malaise cut through practically all areas from kitchen gadget stores to jewelry purveyors and teen apparel retailers.

The deep discounts that began well before the official start of the holiday season spurred a number of merchants to cut their earnings outlooks, fueling more concerns about the health of the industry.

Among the many retailers that reported steep sales declines were Sears Holdings Corp., which operates Kmart and Sears stores, luxury retailer Saks Inc. and Gap Inc. But the biggest surprise came from Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, which posted a smaller sales gain than what Wall Street expected and cut its fourth-quarter earnings outlook.

“This suggests that the lower income group is feeling the pinch more than we thought, and this is clearly reflected in the lower-than-expected numbers at Wal-Mart,” said Ken Perkins, president of research company RetailMetrics LLC. “I think it says the economy is in more dire straits than we thought.”

The International Council of Shopping Centers-Goldman Sachs same-store sales tally dropped 1.7 percent for December, worse than the already reduced estimate for a 1 percent decline. That means that same-store sales for the November-December period dropped 2.2 percent, making it the weakest holiday period since at least 1969, when the index began.

For the calendar year, retail sales rose on average a modest 1 percent, the weakest year since at least 1970, according to Michael P. Niemira, chief economist at the ICSC. The tally is based on same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, which are considered a key indicator of a retailer’s health.

Wal-Mart, blaming the weak economy and severe winter conditions, said that same-store sales rose 1.2 percent. Excluding the impact of declining gasoline prices at the pump, the gain was 1.7 percent. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a 2.8 percent increase, excluding fuel.

Discount rival Target Corp., which has been stumbling because its merchandise focuses more on nonessentials like trendy clothes, announced a 4.1 percent decline in same-store sales, better than the 9.1 percent drop that Wall Street analysts predicted.

Meanwhile, Costco Wholesale Corp. reported a 4 percent decline in same-store sales, but excluding the impact of lower gas prices and currency fluctuations, it actually posted a 4 percent gain. Lower gas prices are good for consumers, but reduce the sales volume for retailers like Costco.

Among department stores, Sears Holdings said its December same-store sales dropped 7.3 percent, weighed down by a 12.8 percent drop at domestic Sears stores.

The company, whose brands include Kenmore and Craftsman, said Kmart same-store sales fell 1.1 percent.

Macy’s Inc. reported that same-store sales fell 4 percent in December, less than the 5.3 percent decline that analysts had expected. For the combined November-December period, same-store sales were down 7.5 percent. But the department store chain cut its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings outlook due to heavy markdowns and announced plans to close 11 underperforming stores – none in the Northwest. The chain operates more than 840 Macy’s stores.

J.C. Penney Co.’s same-store sales within its department store division fell 8.1 percent, better than the 10.3 percent decline analysts had expected.

But luxury stores fared far worse as affluent shoppers sharply cut back on buying Gucci handbags and other status goods, spooked by the financial meltdown that led to massive layoffs on Wall Street and shrinking investment portfolios. Saks Inc. posted a 19.8 percent drop for the month, worse than the 10 percent decline Wall Street expected. Neiman Marcus Group Inc. suffered a 27.5 percent decline in same-store sales.

Limited Brands Inc. posted a 10 percent drop, larger than the 7.8 percent decline analysts predicted. The company also lowered its fourth-quarter earnings outlook.

Gap Inc. suffered a 14 percent drop in same-store sales, worse than the 9.3 percent decline that analysts had expected. It also cut its earnings outlook.

Teen apparel retailers also suffered through a miserable holiday season. Wet Seal Inc. reported a 12.5 percent decline, larger than the 11.9 percent analysts expected, as its Arden B chain dragged down results. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. reported a 24 percent drop, in line with the 23.5 percent drop analysts had forecast.

Kitchen gadget chain Williams-Sonoma Inc., which didn’t break out December figures, said its same-store sales dropped more than 24 percent for the eight-week period ended Dec. 28 and warned its fourth-quarter profit will likely come in at the low end of expectations.