Wal-Mart January Sales

By Ryan Sweet in West Chester 2/5/2007

Wal-Mart estimates sales growth for the five weeks of January to have increased 2.2%, up modestly from a 1.6% gain the month prior and above its initial projection of growth of 1% to 2%. If this preliminary forecast proves correct, as is usually the case, the retail giant will likely be posting its weakest same-store sales growth in fiscal 2006 in over 25 years (most retailers' fiscal years run from February through January). Wal-Mart's soft performance over the past fiscal year has been well-documented. The retail giant’s troubles are at least partially chain-specific as its rapid expansion of new stores stole customers away from existing ones....

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