After a mostly disappointing spring and summer, August provided a reprieve for several of the most prominent U.S. retailers. Because it marks the beginning of the crucial back-to-school season, the month is an important one. Whether driven by tax rebate checks, or the need for the latest cool clothes for the classroom (or some combination of both), shoppers at most stores returned and helped boost results.
The king daddy of retailers, Wal-Mart
Results among the specialty retailers were, as usual, more mixed. Two teen retailers that have consistently performed well this year, Hott Topic
Not all retailers catering to the MTV set had it so easy, though. Abercrombie & Fitch
Gap's
The back-to-school story isn't quite over yet. With these retailers now in the second month of their third quarters, we'll have to wait and see if September proves to be as good as August before we can say how the season is shaping up.
LouAnn Lofton owns shares of Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch.