1:00AM New York – Same store sales declined at most companies as consumers curtail spending and look for ways to stretch their dollars.

Consumers in September looked for discounts at bargain stores and shopped for groceries and other daily needs at Sam’s Club, Costco and other discount outlets. The apparel and luxury retailers reported sharp decline in sales in the month.

Discount Shops Sales Rise

Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) September month net sales increased 7% and for fifty-two weeks of its reporting period ended September 30, 2008 increase of 13%. Net sales in the month increased 10% to $6.67 billion.

Comparable sales for the periods ended September 30, 2008, for U.S., international and Total Sales of the Company for four week were 8%, 2% and 7% respectively and for fifty two week were 6%, 15% and 8% respectively.

The U.S. comparable sales figure includes, among other things, the effect of gasoline price inflation with the average sales price per gallon of gasoline up 31%, as compared to the year-earlier September. Excluding gasoline price inflation, U.S. comparable sales were up 6% and on a local currency basis, international comparable sales increased 8% in September.

Costco currently operates 544 warehouses, including 398 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 76 in Canada, 31 in Mexico, 20 in the United Kingdom, 8 in Japan, 6 in Korea and 5 in Taiwan. The company plans to open an additional seven new warehouses before the end of the year.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) September month sales were up 5.8%.

Net Sales at Wal-Mart Stores increased 4.8%, at Sam’s Club rose 8.0% and international sales fell 7.3%. The net impact of Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike on total U.S. comparable store and club sales was approximately negative 0.4 percentage points. The hurricanes forced the temporary closure of 341 Wal-Mart U.S. stores in coastal areas and the upper Midwest.

BJ''s Wholesale Club, Inc (BJ) same store sales in September sales rose 10.4%, excluding gasoline sales, total sales increased 5.6%. Total sales in the month increased 11.8% to $892.8 million from $798.9 million in the month a year ago.

Excluding sales of gasoline, traffic increased approximately 4% from a year ago and average transaction amount increased nearly 1%. Sales of food increased 10% on strong sales of perishable foods. Sales of general merchandise decreased 3% on lower sales of televisions, jewelry and toys.

Department Stores Struggle

Target Corporation (TGT) net retail sales for the five weeks ended October 4, 2008 increased 2.5% to $5.32 billion from $5.19 billion for the five weeks ended October 6, 2007. September comparable store sales declined 3%.

Target currently expects 2008 full year earnings per share to meet or exceed last year''s full year earnings of $3.33.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP) reported comparable store sales decreased 12.4% for the five-week period ended Oct. 4, 2008. In the month last year sales fell 3.7%. Total company sales in September decreased 10.9%.

The company lowered third quarter earnings in the range of 50 cents to 60 cents a share compared to previous guidance of 70 cents to 75 cents a share.

Kohl’s Corporation (KSS) reported total sales for the five-week period ended October 4 increased 0.6% from the five-week period ended October 6, 2007. On a comparable same store sales fell 5.5%.

Total year-to-date sales were up 2.4%. On a comparable store basis, year-to-date sales decreased 5.6%.

The company lowered third quarter earnings to the low end of its previously announced guidance of 51 cents to 56 cents a diluted share.

Luxury Stores Sales Decline