Bakers Footwear Same-Store Sales Slip

Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, is a key indicator of retailer performance since it measures growth at existing stores rather than newly opened ones.

The company attributed the moderating same-store sales decline in the fourth quarter to demand for its boot offerings.

Total fourth-quarter sales fell 10.6 percent to $54.7 million, from $61.2 million in the year-ago quarter.

Analysts expected sales of $55 million, on average, according to Thomson Financial.

Same-store sales for the fiscal year ended Feb. 2 decreased 12.3 percent, compared with a 7.1 percent decline in fiscal 2006.

Sales for the year fell 9 percent to $186.3 million, from $204.8 million a year earlier. Analysts expected sales of $186.9 million.