Retail Winners & Losers: Macy's, Saks, Zale

NEW YORK(TheStreet) -- Retail shares are in the green Wednesday afternoon, after promising sales data calmed fears heading into the holiday season.

The Commerce Department said retail sales in September fell 1.5%, but excluding autos, sales actually gained 0.5%.

As a result, the S&P Retail Index is climbing 1.4% to 396.78, led up by the department store sector.

In September, department store sales inched up 0.4%, the Commerce Department reported.

Shares of Macy's(M Quote) are jumping 3.7% to $20.47, Sears(SHLD Quote) is up 2.1% to $71.16 and J.C. Penney(JCP Quote) is rising 1.9% to $36.37.

Even high-end department stores Saks(SKS Quote) and Nordstrom(JWN Quote) are on the rise. Shares of Saks are up 1% to $6.41 and Nordstrom is growing 2.1% to $34.63.

Best Buy(BBY Quote) is gaining some steam after it announced that it will open its first 24-hour store in New York on Nov. 13.

Shares of the electronic retailer are receiving a boost of 3.1% to $40.47.

Urban Outfitters(URBN Quote) is spiking 5% to $32.49 after a Citi analyst said more shoppers are heading to the store.

Analyst Kimberly Greenberger reiterated her buy rating on the stock and said that improving same-store sales will help the retailer in the third quarter.