Ross same-store sales rise 3 percent in August

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.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected same-store sales to climb 2.9 percent.

Total sales for the four weeks ended Aug. 30 rose 9 percent to $504 million from $461 million.

Ross said dresses, accessories and shoes were the strongest merchandise categories during the month.

The company said it expects same-store sales to rise between 2 percent and 3 percent for both September and October.