• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, November 3, 2011

While worries about the economy didn’t keep shoppers out of stores in October, they did slow their spending. Monthly results for the nation’s largest retailers were generally positive, but more subdued than many expected. At Target, for example, same-store sales rose 3.3% for the month, and at Macy’s, they gained just 2.2% -- the smallest year-over-year growth rate in recent months -- as warmer-than-usual weather early in the month slowed coat sales and snowy weather in the final weekend kept shoppers home.

Kantar Retail reports that same-store sales came in 3.9% higher in October, weaker than the 5.7% same-store sales gain last month but stronger than the 1.7% gain in October of 2010. The International Council of Shopping Centers, which tracks a slightly different group of stores, says its index rose 3.7%.

 “Weather, pricing, and promotions all had some impact on October’s same-store sales results,” Frank Badillo, Kantar’s senior economist, says in its report. “The biggest drag on growth, however, has to be the belated impact of shoppers’ intention to curb their spending in the coming months and into the holiday.” 

Still, some chains posted strong results. October sales rose 8% at Dillard’s, 6% at Costco, excluding gasoline sales, 5.4% at Nordstrom, and 6% at Limited Brands, which owns Victoria’s Secret.

And at Kohl’s, comparable-store sales rose 3.9%, which the company chalked up to having the right merchandise on the racks, and announced its plans to intensify marketing: “Customers have responded favorably to our newest brands, Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony, as well as to our marketing initiatives,” Kevin Mansell, Kohl’s chairman/CEO, says in its release.  “As we enter the important fourth quarter, we plan to continue our investment in marketing, especially digital and broadcast, to drive customer traffic and broaden our reach.”

Others struggled: Gap Inc. says its same-store sales fell 4%, with declines in each of its brands. At JCPenney, sales slid 2.6%.

ICSC expects that in November, sales will increase between 3.5% and 4%.