LOS ANGELES, Apr 7, 2004/ FW --- Retailers found the treasures that the Easter Bunny hid last March, with most of the major retailers reporting increased sales and higher comparative store sales. That’s the good news.

The better news – both discount and luxury retailers both reported upward trends in spite of the degrading consumer confidence for March.

The National Retail Federation attributed the good sales results to the early Easter Holidays, the earliest in 16 years.

According to NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin, the NRF was expecting some “weaknesses, due to higher gas prices, but consumers have yet to be deterred.”

American Eagle Outfitters and Pacific Sunwear, a favorite among tweens, teens and twenty-something posted 38.5% and 15.7% increase in sales respectively.

Neiman Marcus and Federated Department Stores reported increases also, reporting 2.2% and 3.4% upward movement, respectively.

JCPenney edged up with a 3.2% increase, while Kohl’s was at double digits at 13.5%.

Trendy retailer Target and discount giant Wal-Mart were within range of each other, with Target posting 7.9% increase and Wal-Mart at 5.8% increase.

Overall, the news is good, especially with the retail sector being able to keep the momentum from the holiday selling season.