UPDATE 1-OfficeMax profit misses views; 4th-qtr loss seen

* Q3 EPS ex-items 8 cents; Wall St. est 14 cents * Sales fall 12.6 pct

NEW YORK Oct 29 (Reuters) - OfficeMax Inc (OMX.N) reported a weaker-than-expected quarterly profit as the No. 3 U.S. office products retailer's sales suffered in the recession, and it forecast an operating loss in the current quarter.

OfficeMax said net income was $5.7 million, or 7 cents a share in the third quarter, compared with a year-earlier net loss of $432.7 million, or $5.70 a share.

Excluding one-time items, the retailer earned 8 cents a share, missing the analysts' average forecast of 14 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Sales fell 12.6 percent to $1.83 billion.

Office supply sellers have struggled with softer sales as consumers and small businesses curtail spending, especially on expensive items like furniture and computers. (Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)