11:20 AM New York – January retail sales were uneven across the 22 chains reporting monthly sales. Sales at Limited, Costco and Saks exceeded the industry average and apparel chain stores were weaker than expected on warmer weather.

Retail sales in January were uneven and varied sharply from a chain to chain as weather played a large role in performance at many chains.

The familiar trend of the sales increase at luxury chains and discounters and wholesale clubs continued and sales at mid-price chains, apparel chains and department stores lagged the industry average.

Discounters led the gains in same store sales across the 22 stores that report monthly sales. Comparable sales rose 4.2% at 19 chains tracked by 123jump.com and J.C. Penney stopped reporting monthly results.

Of the 22 chains reporting, 5 chains reports decline in comparable store sales and 3 chains sales increased more than 8%. Three chains are still set to release their sales for the month.

Saks led the industry sales with a sharp rise of 10.5% and better than expected sales increase at Limited, Nordstrom, Ross Stores and Macy’s.

January month is generally used by retailers to clear the unsold merchandise in the holiday period and generally offers the clue of how well the spring season sales are developing.

Unusual warm weather this January affected apparel sales at several chains. Bon-Ton Stores Inc.’ comparable sales in the month declined 3.5%. Macy’s reported sales increase of 2.4%, which was “weaker than expected” according to the company’s chief executive Terry Lundgren.

Costco same store sales increased 8% or more for the fourteenth month in a row and sales increased at the fastest pace since September 2011.

Sale at Macy’s declined for the seventh month in a row. Limited Brands sales increase for the ninth month in a row. Saks and Nordstrom reported sales increase for the ninth months in a row.

Sale at Ross Stores and TJX increased in single digits for the thirteenth month in a row but at a slower pace than the gains at Saks and Nordstrom.

Costco Sales Rise 11%

Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) reported January net sales increased 11% to $7 billion. Comparable sales in the month at the U.S. locations rose 9% and at international locations increased 6% and across the company increased 8%.

Target Corporation (TGT) net retail sales in the month increased 5.1% to $4.61 billion from a prior year month and comparable sales rose 4.3%.

FRED’S, Inc. (FRED) the total sales for the month increased 3% to $132.4 million compared to $129.1 million from a year ago. Comparable store sales fell 0.8%.

Total sales for the fourth quarter 2011 increased 2% to $497.7 million compared to $485.6 million in the same period last year. Comparable store sales in the fourth quarter rose 0.1%

Macy’s and Kohl’s Sales Up 2.4%

Macy's, Inc (M) January month same store sales increased 2.4% and total sales rose 2% to $1.3 billion and online sales in January surged 38.7%.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 same store sales increased 5.2% and total sales rose 5.5% to $8.7 billion and online sales in January surged 40%.

Kohl’s Corporation (KSS) reported total sales in the month increased 2.4% to $844 million from a year ago and same store sales increased 0.6% to in the month.

Nordstrom Leads Luxury Sales Surge

Dillard's Inc (DDS) reported monthly sales decreased 1% to $363.5 million compared to a year ago period and comparable same store sales increased 4%.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 sales increased 2% to $1.95 billion compared to a year ago period and comparable same store sales unchanged to 6% of year ago

Saks Inc. (SKS) monthly sales increased 7.2% to $175.6 million compared to $163.8 million a year ago month and comparable sales increased 10.5%.

For the fourth quarter ended January 28, sales increased 6.4% to $905.1 million compared to $850.8 million a year ago and comparable sales increased 7.7%.