Nordstrom May same-store sales fall 13.1 percent

Luxury department store chain Nordstrom Inc. said Thursday its same-store sales fell 13.1 percent in May.

Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, is a key indicator of retailer performance.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected same-store sales to fall 12.7 percent during the month.

The Seattle-based retailer said overall sales for the four-week period ended May 30 fell about 9 percent to $653 million from $716 million a year ago.

The company's namesake chain reported a same-store sales drop of 16.7 percent. Nordstrom Rack, the company's outlet chains, fared better, with same-store sales rising 2.2 percent for the month.

Even the company's half-yearly sale at its Nordstrom chain didn't help boost performance. For the first 11 days of the sale, which includes merchandise for women and kids and started May 20, the company said same-store sales fell 14 percent.

Sales were the strongest during the month in the South, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions, the company added.

Shares of Nordstrom fell $1.39, or 6.1 percent, to $21.43 in morning trading as many retailers reported weak sales.