Macy's reports disappointing profit as sales slip

Friday, August 9, 2013, Vol. 37, No. 32

NEW YORK (AP) — Macy's Inc. is reporting a lower-than-expected profit for its second quarter, with the department store operator citing shoppers' economic wariness for a slip in sales.

The company also cut its full-year earnings outlook.

The company, which also operates Bloomingdales, says it earned $281 million, or 72 cents per share, for the quarter. That's short of the 78 cents per share analysts expected. A year ago, the company earned $279 million, or 67 cents per share.

Revenue slipped to $6.07 billion, also short of the $6.26 billion analysts expected.

Revenue at stores opened a year slid 0.8 percent.

Macy's is the first of the major retailers to report second-quarter results, which should provide insight into how shoppers are spending for the crucial back-to-school selling period.