Wal-Mart August same-store sales beat expectations

Sales in stores open at least one year, a measure known as same-store sales, rose 2.8 percent at Wal-Mart Stores and 4.2 percent at Sam's Club for the four weeks ended Aug. 29.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters predicted a 1.6 percent rise.

Including fuel, the world's largest retailer's total same-store sales rose 3.5 percent.

Total company sales rose 9 percent to $30.67 billion in the four-week period.

"The underlying business performance for Walmart U.S. continued to show strength and the improved relative performance has resulted in market share gains," said Eduardo Castro-Wright, Walmart U.S. president and chief executive, in a statement.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based company says sales of groceries, health and wellness products and flat-panel TVs sold well, as did back-to-school product such as jeans and school supplies.

Digital audio, cellphones, GPS units, fitness and camping products also sold well.

At Sam's Club, basics such as fresh food, pet supplies and fall apparel were strong sellers, while housewares and furniture sales were weaker.

Year-to-date, same-store sales rose 3.1 percent, including a 3.1 percent rise at Wal-Mart and a 3.3 percent rise at Sam's Club. Same-store sales rose 3.7 percent including fuel. Total sales rose nearly 10 percent to $227.14 billion.