Mothers Work same-store sales climb in May

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.

Total monthly sales edged up 0.2 percent to $54.2 million as improved same-store sales were mostly offset by a decline in sales from leased department and licensed relationships.

The company's leased departments within Sears will close before the end of the third quarter as previously announced.

Mothers Work cautioned that its June same-store sales results will be hurt by one less Friday and Saturday during the period.

Mothers Work operated 760 stores, 771 leased department locations and 1,531 total retail locations as of May 31.