Kohl's total sales decreased by 1.9%

Kohl’s April 2012 total sales decreased 1.9 percent and

comparable store sales decreased 3.5 percent from the four-week month ended April 30, 2011. For the quarter and year-to-date period, total sales increased 1.9 percent and comparable store sales increased 0.2 percent. The company remains comfortable with its first quarter earnings guidance of $0.60 cents per diluted share.

Kevin Mansell, Kohl’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, commented, “As expected, warm March weather and an early Easter contributed to a decline in April sales. Home, accessories and men’s all reported positive comparable store sales. From a regional perspective, the Midwest, Northeast, South Central and West outperformed the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.”

The Wisconsin-based company opened nine new stores, including one relocated store, and closed one store in March 2012 and now operates 1,134 stores in 49 states, compared to 1,097 stores at the same time last year.