10:00AM New York – Apparel retailers report a decline in comparable stores revenue and earnings as consumers avoid discretionary purchases.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co, a specialty retailer that operates stores and websites selling casual sportswear apparel reported second quarter revenues increased 5% to $845.8 million from $804.5 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter declined 4.49% to $77.8 million or 87 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $81.3 million or 88 cents per share, a year ago.

Comparable store sales decreased 4%.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co (ANF: chart) in the last one year traded as high as $85.77 in December 2007 and as low as $48.21 in August 2008. Based on the yesterday’s closing price the company has a market cap of $4.57 billion.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc, retailer, operating 1,067 department stores reported second quarter revenues decreased 2.5% to $4.2 billion from $4.3 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter declined 35.7% to $117 million or 52 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $182 million or 81 cents per share, a year ago.

Comparable store sales decreased 4.3%.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc (JCP: chart) in the last one year traded as high as $70.21 in August 2007 and as low as $27.65 in July 2008. Based on the yesterday’s closing price the company has a market cap of $8.18 billion.

New York and Company, Inc, a specialty apparel chain with 596 retail stores reported second quarter revenues increased 3.61% to $295.7 million from $285.0 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 61% to $8.7 million or 14 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $3.4 million or 6 cents per share, a year ago.

Comparable store sales for the second quarter of fiscal year 2008 decreased 2.2%, compared to a 4.9% increase in the prior year second quarter.

New York and Company, Inc (NWY: chart) in the last one year traded as high as $10.66 in August 2008 and as low as $3.65 in January 2008. Based on the yesterday’s closing price the company has a market cap of $594.89 million.

Kohl’s Corporation, department store chain said second quarter sales rose 3.8% to $3.7 billion from $3.5 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 12% to $236 million or 77 cents per diluted share compared to net income of$269.2 million or 83 cents per share, a year ago.

Comparable store sales for the quarter decreased 4.6%.

Kohl’s Corporation (KSS: chart) in the last one year traded as high as $63.97 in August 2007 and as low as $36.81 in January 2008. Based on the yesterday’s closing price the company has a market cap of $14.81 billion.

Nordstrom, Inc, upscale department store chain said second quarter sales fell 4.3% to $2.29 billion from $2.39 billion a year ago. Net income in the quarter declined 21% to $143 million or 65 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $180 million or 71 cents per share, a year ago.

Second quarter same-store sales decreased 6.0%.

Nordstrom, Inc (JWN: chart) in the last one year traded as high as $52.52 in September 2007 and as low as $25.67 in July 2008. Based on the yesterday’s closing price the company has a market cap of $6.55 billion.