<div id="subtitle">Sales comparisons for drug, department, low-price and clothing stores for December</div><div><p>For selected chains in four key retail sectors, here is how sales at stores open at least a year changed from December 2008 to December 2009.</p><p>The comparison is a key indicator of a retailer's health because it excludes stores that open or close during the year.</p><p>___</p><p>_ Drug stores</p><p>Rite Aid Corp. -1.8 pct</p><p>Walgreen Co. -0.3 pct</p><p>___</p><p>_ Low-price chains</p><p>BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. 4.8 pct</p><p>Costco Wholesale Corp. 9 pct</p><p>Target Corp. 1.8 pct</p><p>___</p><p>_ Department stores</p><p>Bon-Ton Stores Inc. -2.6 pct</p><p>Dillard's Inc. -7 pct</p><p>Fred's Inc. 1.3 pct</p><p>J.C. Penney Co. -3.8 pct</p><p>Kohl's Corp. 4.7 pct</p><p>Neiman Marcus Group Inc. 4.5 pct</p><p>Nordstrom Inc. 7.4 pct</p><p>Macy's Inc. 1 pct</p><p>Saks Inc. 9.9 pct</p><p>Sears Holdings Corp. 0.4 pct</p><p>Stage Stores Inc. -2.2 pct</p><p>___</p><p>_ Clothing stores</p><p>Abercrombie & Fitch Co. -19 pct</p><p>Aeropostale Inc. 10 pct</p><p>American Apparel Inc. -5 pct</p><p>American Eagle Outfitters Inc. 7 pct</p><p>Cato Corp. 7 pct</p><p>The Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. 4 pct</p><p>Destination Maternity Corp. -1.2 pct</p><p>Gap Inc. 2 pct</p><p>Hot Topic Inc. -10.9 pct</p><p>Limited Brands Inc. -2 pct</p><p>Ross Stores Inc. 12 pct</p><p>Stein Mart Inc. -2 pct</p><p>TJX Cos. 14 pct</p><p>Wet Seal Inc. -4.6 pct</p><p>Zumiez Inc. 0.3 pct</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=66495065&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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