The following is a general round-up of August sales results that have been announced in the past couple of days:

Clothing chain the Wet Seal Inc said its same-store sales fell 12 per cent last month and total sales slipped 4.5 per cent to $54 million from $56.5m in the year-ago period.

Specialty women’s apparel retailer Cache Inc said its same-store sales grew two per cent and total sales climbed seven per cent to $12.3 million from $11.5m in 2001.

Women’s plus-size apparel chain Charming Shoppes Inc said its same-store sales fell one per cent and total sales rose 14 per cent to $178.1 million from $156.9m last year, with Lane Bryant same-store sales down four per cent.

Off-price clothing vendor Ross Stores said its same-store sales rose six per cent last month and total sales soared 17 per cent to $279 million from $238m a year ago.

Fashion retailer Stein Mart Inc posted a 0.6 per cent rise same-store sales and added total sales climbed 9.6 per cent year-on-year to $98.1 million.

Retail giant Target said its same-store sales slipped 0.1 per cent but total sales for the month increased 7.5 per cent to $3.23 billion from $3.01bn, with same-store sales down 2.5 per cent at Mervyn's and 3.5 per cent at Marshall Field's.

Apparel retailer Spiegel Group said Eddie Bauer same-store sales plunged 18 per cent last month and said total group sales slumped 21 per cent to $149.6 million from the year-ago period.

Men’s apparel chain Jos A Bank Clothiers Inc reported a 14.6 per cent jump in monthly same-store sales amid strong suit, shirt and sports wear sales and said total sales soared 20.3 per cent to $14.3 million from $11.9m in 2001.

Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc said its August same-store sales fell 2.5 per cent and total sales slipped 1.4 per cent to $31.6 million from $32.1m last year.

Casual apparel retailer Gadzooks Inc reported a 6.4 per cent slide in same-store sales and said total sales rose 0.7 per cent to $30.5 million from $30.3m a year ago.

Alabama-based retailer Saks Inc registered a 3.3 per cent slip in August same-store sales and said total sales fell 4.7 per cent to $394.2 million from $413.7m in 2001. Same-store sales at Saks Department Store Group fell 5.6 per cent while same-store sales at Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises climbed 0.3 per cent.

Bebe Stores Inc announced its August same-store sales plunged 17.6 per cent and added total sales slipped 5.1 per cent to $26.2 million from $27.6m in the year-ago period.

J Crew Group Inc said its total sales fell six per cent last month to $59.7 million from $63.6m, with same-store sales for the retail division down 13.3 per cent and net sales for the direct division down 11 per cent.

Federated Department Stores Inc said its same-store sales fell 5.8 per cent in August and total sales slipped 3.8 per cent to $1.086 billion from $1.129bn in 2001.