Wal-Mart Sept. Same-Store Sales Rise 2.4%

Analysts expected the retailer to report an increase of 2.5%.

By Joseph Woelfel , Oct 8, 2008 7:54 AM EDT

Wal-Mart Stores

, the world's largest retailer, said same-store sales in September rose 2.4%.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected Wal-Mart to report a September same-store sales increase of 2.5%. Including fuel, same-store sales rose 2.8%, the company said in a statement.



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Total company sales for the five weeks ended Oct. 3, rose 5.8% to $36.23 billion from $34.23 billion a year earlier.

Wal-Mart said it expects U.S. comparable-store sales for October to rise 1% to 2%. The retailer also maintained its current estimate for earnings from continuing operations for the third quarter of 73 cents to 76 cents a share.