New York City (March 5, 2009) Most apparel retailers continued to struggle in February, with some notable exceptions. The Buckle posted a 21% increase in February same-store sales, far above the 9% gain expected. Hot Topic reported Wednesday that its same-store sales rose 10.8%, more than double what analysts estimated. At Aeropostale, February same-store sales rose 11%, beating analyst expectations, as shoppers purchased spring merchandise.

Although most other apparel retailers remained in a funk in February, the results, in most cases, were not as bad as Wall Street predictions. One of the hardest hit retailers was Abercrombie & Fitch Co., whose same-store sales plunged 30% in February due to much weaker results at all its chains.

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