Macy’s: Sales up 11 percent in March

Macy’s Inc. said its sales at stores open for at least a year increased by 11 percent in March, as consumers began spending in greater numbers than earlier in the recession.

Those results, classified as same-store sales, are considered a key measure of a retailer’s performance.

Sales totaled $2.14 billion for the five weeks ended April 3 at all stores and Web retailing outlets, compared with $1.9 billion for the same period a year earlier.

“Sales also benefited from an earlier Easter that shifted some business into March and will hurt April comparisons,” said Terry Lundgren, Macy’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Macy’s operates about 850 department stores across the country, including Macy’s stores at Dayton Mall and the Mall at Fairfield Commons. The company also operates the macys.com and bloomingdales.com Web retailing sites.

Sales totaled $2.14 billion for the five weeks ended April 3 at all stores and Web retailing outlets, compared with $1.9 billion for the same period a year earlier.