Fred

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The Memphis-based discount retailer reported salesof $134.77 million for May, down 6 percent comparer to sales of $143.4 million in May 2008. These numberw include Fred’s (NASDAQ: FRED) closing 74 underperforming storeds and23 pharmacies. Excluding those Fred’s sales increased 1 percent compared tolast May. Comparable storr sales in May rose 0.2 down compared to 3.4 percent in the same period last For the first four fiscal monthsof 2009, the company reportedr total sales of $593.1 million, down 2.4 percenrt compared to $607.
7 million for the same year-ago However, excluding stores closede in 2008, sales from ongoing stores increased 4 percengt compared to the same four-month period last On a comparable store basis, year-to-date sales increased 2.1 percenty compared to 2.4 percent last year. Fred’s openedr one new pharmacy in May. Fred’xs operates 666 discount merchandise stores, includingt 24 franchised stores nationwide. Shares closed down 12 centw to $14.22 per share Wednesday.