DALLAS, Jul 7, 2006/ --- JCPenney and Saks Incorporated reported 4.3% and 4.7%, respectively for their comparable store sales for the month of June. Federated Department Stores, which operates Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Famous-Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's, Kaufmann's, L.S. Ayres, Marshall Field's, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May, Strawbridge's and The Jones Store lagged behind at 1.7%.

But, though Federated’s comparable store sales was slightly below the company's guidance for a same-store sales increase of 2% to 3% in June, it made up with its 64.8% increase in sales of $2.367 billion, compared to $1.436 billion in the same period last year.

Dallas-based JCPenney on the other hand reported a total department store sales increase of 5.0%, its direct sales jumped 6.0% while its internet sales is its fastest growing segment posting a 27.0% increase in June.

JCPenney reported sales of $1.615 billion for June 2006, 5.1% increase from posted sales of $1.536 during the same period last year.

Meanwhile, it was not all good news at Saks Incorporated, which posted total sales decrease of 43.8% compared to last year. June 2006 sales was reported at $306.8 million, compared to $546.1 million for June 2005.

In a different announcement by Federated Department Stores, the Cincinnati-based retailer confirmed that it has signed an agreement to sell its New York-based Lord & Taylor division to NRDC Equity Partners, LLC for $1.195 billion in cash.

Federated's Board of Directors has approved the sale. A transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2006, pending regulatory approvals.

The sale includes 48 Lord & Taylor stores in New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, as well as a distribution center in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Federated will continue to operate all Lord & Taylor stores and facilities until NRDC assumes ownership. Federated accounts for Lord & Taylor as a discontinued operation.