Wal-Mart same-store sales rise 3.2 percent in April

The world's largest retailer said same-store sales rose 3.2 percent, easily beating Wall Street's 2.1 percent growth forecast. Including fuel, same-store sales climbed 3.8 percent.

The sales figure, which counts only stores open at least one year, is considered a key measure of a retailer's fiscal health.

Same-store sales rose 2.6 percent at namesake Wal-Mart stores and 6.6 percent at Sam's Club, excluding fuel.

Total sales for the four weeks ended May 2 rose 10 percent to $29.18 billion.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based company says it expects May sales growth by the same measure, excluding fuel, to be flat to up to 2 percent.

____

AP Business Writer Mae Anderson