7:00 PM New York – The June month same-store sales reflected the growing pains in the retail industry. The tapped out consumer is reluctant to splurge even at discount stores. Stores in mall are struggling even with discounts of above 60%. Abercrombie, Dillard’s, Nordstrom and Gap led the decliners.

U.S. retailers declined after reporting weak June month same-store sales. The decline was widespread across all types of retailers including discount retailers. Teen apparel retailers and luxury stores reported worst sales declines in the month.

Retailer reported weak same-store sales in June as weather and weak job market held back consumers.

Higher than normal rainy days in the Northeast and West Coast states impacted sales at malls and many discount stores. But, the consumer’s reluctance to splurge on non-essential items also impacted sales in the month.

Discounters also struggled with sales in the month as they have every month this year. The fall in gasoline prices, tight consumer spending and rising unemployment has held back consumer spending.

Discount Stores Sales Struggle

BJ''s Wholesale Club, Inc. (BJ) same store sales in June decreased 7.5%, including negative impact from sales of gasoline of 10.2%. Excluding gasoline sales, merchandise club comparable sales rose 2.7%.

Total sales in the month decreased 4.8% from a year ago to $1.00 billion.

Excluding sales of gasoline, traffic increased approximately 4% and the average transaction amount decreased by approximately 1% from last year. Sales of food increased 6% on strong sale of perishables. Sales of general merchandise rose 3%.

Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) reported June net sales decreased 4% to $6.88 billion.

Comparable sales in the month in the U.S. locations fell 6% and at international locations decreased 3% and across the company declined 6%.

Excluding the gasoline and currency variations, comparable sales fell 1% in the month in the U.S. and rose 8% at international locations and increased 1% across the company.

Target Corporation (TGT) net retail sales in June decreased 2.6% to $5.69 million from a prior year month. The comparable sales in June fell 6.2%.

Wal-Mart Stores will no longer declare monthly same store sales but will provide quarterly same store sales increase.

Department Stores Sales Decline Accelerate

Macy''s, Inc (M) June same store sales fell 8.9%. Total sales declined 9.1% to $2.04 billion compared to $2.25 billion for the month of year ago.

For the year to date, total sales were $8.99 billion, a decrease of 9.4% from $9.92 billion from the year ago period. For the year-to-date same-store sales fell 9.0%.

Macy''s online sales in June gained 8.2% and for the year surged 13.6%.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP) reported comparable store sales decreased 8.2% for the five week period ended July 4 compared to a decline of 2.4% from a year ago month. Total sales in June declined 6.7%.

Sales for the first twenty-two weeks declined 6.2% compared to a fall of 3.6% and comparable sales decreased 7.8% compared to a fall of 5.7% in the quarter a year ago.

The company now expects comparable store sales in second quarter to decrease 9.5% to 10.5% compared to original guidance for a decrease of 9% to 12%.