Zumiez Oct. sales comparison drops 8.9 percent

Zumiez posts 8.9 percent drop in sales at stores open a year or more; off 13.6 percent in 2009

• On 6:24 pm EST, Wednesday November 4, 2009

EVERATT, Wash. (AP) -- Sports apparel and equipment retailer Zumiez Inc. on Wednesday said sales at stores open at least a year fell 8.9 percent in October.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters forecast sales to drop 6.7 percent for the month.

The figure is a key indicator of a retailers' health, because it measures growth at existing stores, rather than from expansion.

Footwear was the only department that showed an increase, the company said in a recorded message.

For the year, sales at stores open at least a year are down 13.6 percent, the message said.

Total sales for the month fell 1.5 percent from the year-ago period, to $24.7 million.

Zumiez shares closed Wednesday trading up 13 cents at $13.46.