[R]1:00 PM New York – September comparable sales managed to show a small gain on a calendar shift, delayed back-to-school sales and weak comparison to the previous year. Teenage retail related sales were soft in the month.[/R]

After months of sales decline, comparable store sales showed a mild increase in September. Heavy discounting played a significant role in arresting sales fall.

Large and small retail chains managed to show a small rise in sales according to the latest data collected by Thomson Reuters and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Calendar shift and easier comparison also played a role in the showing a better than expected results. Back-to-school season was pushed in the month from August and a year ago sales were dropping in double digits at most chains.

Teenage retailers reported weaker than expected sales despite the back-to-school sales. Sales at Abercrombie & Fitch, Hot Topic and American Apparel were soft.

Retailers are expected to report weak results until job market stabilizes and consumer spending recovers. Most retailers and analysts are focused on the upcoming Christmas season and the sales estimates run a gamut from a decline of 3% to flat sales.

High ticket items like designer clothes, jewelry and consumer durables are still expected to show a high single digit declines according to most people in the industry surveyed by 123jump.com.

However, for the month the retail sales increase of 0.6% was the first monthly increase from the previous year since July 2008.

BJ’s and Costco Same Store Sales Improve

BJ''s Wholesale Club, Inc (BJ: chart) same store sales in August decreased 0.5%, including negative impact from sales of gasoline of 6.0%. Excluding gasoline sales, merchandise club comparable sales rose 5.5%.

Total sales in the month increased 4.1% from a year ago to $928.0 million.

Excluding sales of gasoline, traffic increased approximately 7% 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 approximately 5% compare to last year.

Costco Wholesale Corp (COST: chart) reported September net sales increased 3% to $6.85 billion.

Net sales for the fiscal fourth quarter ended August 30, 2009 fell 3% to $21.89 billion compared to $22.63 billion quarter ended August 31, 2008. Net sales for fiscal year 2009 decreased 2% to $69.89 billion from $70.98 billion for fiscal year 2008 ended August 31, 2008.

Comparable sales in the month in the U.S. locations fell 1% and at international locations increased 6% and across the company rose 1%.

Excluding the gasoline and currency variations, comparable sales increased 3% in the month in the U.S. and rose 9% at international locations and increased 4% across the company.

Target Corporation (TGT: chart) net retail sales in September increased 1.3% to $5.39 billion from a prior year month. The comparable sales in September fell 1.7%.

The company now expects third quarter EPS performance to exceed the current median FirstCall estimates of 43 cents a share.

Wal-Mart Stores no longer declares monthly same store sales but provides quarterly same store sales data.

Department Store Sales Decline at a Slower Pace