• December 6, 2007

While plenty of retailers are worried that economic jitters may be holding consumers back, Neiman Marcus shoppers don't seem concerned at all: The Dallas-based retailer says sales for the first quarter of its fiscal 2008 rose to $1.13 billion, compared to $1.04 billion in the prior year. And comparable revenues increased 6.5%.

And for the month of November, comparable revenues climbed to $351 million, a gain of 5.8% from the same period a year ago. In retail stores, comparable revenues gained 6.1%. The company, which also owns Bergdorf Goodman, says sales growth trends were strongest in stores in the Midwest and the Northeast, with designer shoes and handbags, and women's fine apparel selling especially well.

At its direct marketing segment, which includes online and print catalog operations under the Neiman Marcus, Horchow and Bergdorf Goodman brands, sales grew by 4.3% compared to November 2006, with shoes and handbags, women's contemporary sportswear, jewelry and men's among the top sellers.--Sarah Mahoney