Bon-Ton same-store sales fall in August

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

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected same-store sales to decline 6 percent.

Total sales for the four weeks ended Aug. 30 fell 9 percent to $207.1 million from $228.3 million.

The company said its August sales were affected by "continued weakness in customer traffic" and a lower level of clearance merchandise.

Bon-Ton said its customers are buying "closer to need."

The company said its best-performing categories were children's, cosmetics and accessories while its weakest-performing categories were furniture, ladies' and men's apparel.