Wal-Mart keeps September sales view

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Monday maintained its September sales forecast and said back-to-school demand picked up for key categories including electronics and clothing after a sluggish start.

On a recording detailing sales through Sept. 10, the world’s biggest retailer said it still expects a 2 percent to 4 percent increase in September sales at its U.S. stores open at least a year -- a retail measure known as same-store sales.

Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart listed bedding, electronics and clothing among the best-selling categories last week as students prepared to go back to school and college.

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Many Wall Street analysts had been concerned about a poor start to the back-to-school season, and were looking for a pickup in demand for big items such as electronics.

Wal-Mart and other retailers had said that a late Labor Day holiday weekend had delayed the start of school — and therefore back-to-school shopping — in many parts of the United States.

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The retailer said Hurricane Frances affected some 150 of its stores, but sales in Florida improved after the hurricane passed. Wal-Mart said hurricanes are usually slightly beneficial to sales as people stock up on essentials beforehand and then buy clean-up supplies afterward.

Wal-Mart also said it would release its weekly sales updates on Saturdays instead of Mondays from now on.