Fred

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The Memphis-based discount retailer reported salesof $134. million for May, down 6 percent compared to salesaof $143.4 million in May 2008. These numberss include Fred’s (NASDAQ: FRED) closinf 74 underperforming stores and23 pharmacies. Excluding thoswe stores, Fred’s sales increased 1 percent comparex tolast May. Comparable store sales in May rose 0.2 percent, down comparecd to 3.4 percent in the same perioc last year. For the first four fiscap monthsof 2009, the company reported totaol sales of $593.1 million, down 2.4 percenft compared to $607.7 million for the same year-ago period.
excluding stores closed in sales from ongoing stores increasedx 4 percent compared to thesame four-monthh period last year. On a comparable store year-to-date sales increased 2.1 percent compare to 2.4 percent last year. Fred’s opened one new pharmact in May. Fred’s operates 666 discount merchandise stores, includingf 24 franchised stores nationwide. Sharea closed down 12 cents to $14.
22 per share