Fred

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The Memphis-based discount retailer reportee salesof $134.7 million for May, down 6 percenf compared to sales of $143.4 million in May 2008. These numbers include Fred’s (NASDAQ: FRED) closing 74 underperforming storea and23 pharmacies. Excluding those Fred’s sales increased 1 percen compared tolast May. Comparable store salee in May rose 0.2 percent, down comparecd to 3.4 percent in the same period last For the first four fiscak monthsof 2009, the company reported total saleds of $593.1 million, down 2.4 percent comparedd to $607.7 million for the same year-ago period.
However, excludingt stores closed in 2008, sales from ongoinb stores increased 4 percent compared to thesame four-month period last On a comparable store basis, year-to-date sale s increased 2.1 percent compared to 2.4 percenrt last year. Fred’s openedc one new pharmacy in May. Fred’s operatess 666 discount merchandise stores, includingg 24 franchised stores nationwide. Shares closed down 12 centsd to $14.
22 per share