Abercrombie & Fitch April Sales Rise

Youth apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch said on Thursday its April same-store sales, or sales in stores open at least a year, increased 17 percent compared to the same month a year ago.

The jump soundly beat Wall Street estimates. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had expected an increase of 7.9 percent.

Total sales for the month ended April 29 totaled $207.8 million, up 30 percent from $159.4 million in April 2005.

For the year through the end of April, same-store sales were up 6 percent from last year, while net sales increased 20 percent to $657.3 million from $546.8 million in the year-ago period.

Abercrombie & Fitch shares rose 17 cents to $60.51 in pre-market trading, after closing Wednesday at $60.34 on the New York Stock Exchange.