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Target May Same-Store Sales Slip 6.1%
By The Associated Press

06/04/09 08:43 AM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Target Corp. says its same-store sales declined worse than analysts expected in May.

The Minneapolis-based retailer says its same-store sales -- a key measure of a retailer's health -- fell 6.1 percent last month.

Thomson Reuters says analysts expected a smaller 4.3 percent decline in same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least one year.

Target says total sales for the four weeks ended May 30 fell 2.3 percent to $4.46 billion.

The company says so far this year, same-store sales have fallen 4.2 percent while total sales have declined 0.2 percent.

Target Chief Executive Gregg Steinhafel says the results were "somewhat below" Target's expectations.

The retailer is struggling as consumers cut costs and focus on basics.