DALLAS, Aug 3, 2006 / FW/ --- With giant Wal-mart, the world’s biggest retailer posting $16.543 billion in sales for July, a 8.4% increase from $15.260 billion during the same period last year, it is good news for everyone because that means the retail sector is doing well.

The accepted bell-weather for retail for sometime now, Wal-Mart’s performance often reflects the general trend for the current period.

Still, Target, though a far second at $3.937 billion sales for the month of July, a 9.6% increase from $3.593 billion from July 2005, outpaced Wal-Mart slightly in terms of growth. The same hold true for comparable store sales, with Target posting 3.1% increase and Wal-Mat at 2.3% increase.

But, if the comparable sales included the fuel sales of the Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club segment, July figures for comparable store sales would have been 3.7%.

Other discounters also fared very well in July. BJ’s, operators of BJ’s Wholesale Club in the eastern U.S. reported sales of $613.3 million, a 5.4% increase from $582.1 million from last year.

Costco, another wholesale club operating in the western part of the country posted 11% growth with sales of $4.48 billion for July 2006, compared to $4.02 billion for July 2005. Dollar General’s sales performance is also within range at 10.3% increase reporting $680.5 million for July 2006, up from $617.0 million in July 2005.

For comparable store sales, BJ’s reported 1.9% increase, Costsco at 7% increase and Dollar General at 4.6% increase.

Meanwhile, clothing discounter Ross reported sales of $397 million for July, a 10% increase from $362 million in sales reported during the same period last year, with comparable store sales pegged at 1% increase.