Target October sales comparison nearly flat

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Discount retailer Target Corp. said Thursday sales in stores open at least one year edged down 0.1 percent in October as consumers bought necessities like healthcare products but shied away from higher-ticket items like electronics and sporting goods.

Total sales for the four weeks ended Oct. 31 rose 3 percent to $4.54 billion.

Analysts expected sales in stores open at least one year to be flat compared with a year ago, when sales fell 4.8 percent.

The company said apparel sales were slightly stronger than a year ago, with sales of shoes, jewelry and accessories offsetting weaker newborn and infant and women's apparel.

Categories such as food, health care, household products, baby care and beauty products were strong sellers.

Electronics, home and sporting goods sales were weaker.

Geographically, Northern California, the Northeast and the Midwest were strong, but Florida and Texas were weaker.

Target, based in Minneapolis, expects sales in stores open at least one year to be flat in November.