Fred

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percent versus an increase of 1.2 percent in the same periof last year. Total sales in the five-week fiscal mont of March were $175.4 million, down 1 percenf compared to total salesof $177. 7 million in March 2008. The company attributes this to the closing of 74 underperformingh stores and 22 underperforming pharmacies last Excluding stores closedduring 2008, totaol sales from ongoing stores increaseds 4 percent in March versus the same month last Fred’s total sales for the first two monthes of fiscal 2009 were $321.98 million, down 2 percent compared to $326.8 million in the same year-ago period. On a comparable store year-to-date sales increased 1.9 percent compared with 1.
1 percent in the same perioe last year. “Our progress in buildingh both traffic and averages ticket continued during as indicated by comparable stord sales growth at the high end ofour Fred’s CEO Bruce A. Efird said in a “This performance, which also reflected highet pharmacy departmentprescription counts, is gratifyintg considering the tough retail environment we face. Thosed same challenges, however, continue to drive growinf consumer interest indiscount retailers, and Fred's remainzs well positioned to deliver great value to its Memphis-based Fred’s (NASDAQ: FRED) operatesa 666 discount merchandise including 24 franchised stores nationwide.