Warm weather hurts TJX sales

TJX Cos., the Framingham-based operator of such retail chains as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, said today that October sales were "slightly below our plan" because of unseasonably warm weather in many parts of North America.

Still, TJX's solid sales gains for the month showed little evidence that a data breach in the company's computer system has dissuaded many consumers from shopping at its stores, which focus on apparel and home fashions.

Sales for the four week period that ended Nov. 3 were $1.54 billion, up 6 percent over the same period a year ago, TJX said.

At stores open at least a year, which the company calls "comparable store sales," there was a 3 percent increase from last year.

"Our 3 percent consolidated comparable store sales increase in October was achieved on top of a strong 5 percent increase last year," Carol Meyrowitz, TJX president and chief executive, noted in a statement. "Although slightly below our plan, the unseasonably warm weather in many US and Canadian markets dramatically impacted all of our cold-weather apparel categories."

Meyrowitz added, " We remain comfortable that our third-quarter earnings-per-share from continuing operations will be within our previously anticipated range of $.53-$.55."

Besides T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, TJX operates such chains as HomeGoods, A.J. Wright, and Bob's Stores.

Earlier this year, TJX disclosed how unknown hackers had stolen at least 45.7 million customer credit and debit card numbers from its computer system; TJX has said about 75 percent of the compromised cards were expired or had data in the magnetic strip masked.

Last month, a group of banks suing TJX over the costs associated with the breach alleged in court filings that more than 94 million accounts were affected in the theft of personal data.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)