Hechinger sales down againThe financial dry spell...

Hechinger sales down again

The financial dry spell continued in July for Hechinger Co. as the Landover-based home improvement chain yesterday reported a fourth consecutive month of anemic sales.

Overall sales for the period that ended July 29 dropped 9 percent to $177 million, compared with the same month last year. July sales in stores open at least a year, a bellwether of performance because it factors out new stores, fell 6 percent, after declines of 7 percent in June, 8 percent in May and 10 percent in April.

The company, which operates 66 Hechinger stores and 50 Home Quarters Warehouse stores in 21 states and Washington, absorbed an 8 percent decline in sales, from $86.2 million to $79.4 million, at its Hechinger Stores division in July. Same-store sales were flat.

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