Pacific Sunwear March same-store sales fall 8 percent

(Reuters) - Pacific Sunwear of California Inc (PSUN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported a wider-than-expected fall in March same-store sales as an early Easter failed to draw shoppers to the surfing-inspired apparel retailer's stores.

The retailer's March same-store sales fell 8 percent while Wall Street analysts had expected a decline of 1.5 percent.

Total sales from the company's PacSun division for the five weeks of fiscal March ended April 5 fell 8 percent to $115.3 million from the year-ago period.

"We experienced significant weekly sales volatility due to Easter being two weeks earlier this year than last year," PacSun CFO Michael Henry CFO said in a pre-recorded call.

Easter fell on March 23 this year compared with April 8 last year making it the earliest Easter since 1913, according to the National Retail Federation.

Though Easter usually boosts retail sales, an early Easter and a much colder March also means people are not as likely to buy spring wear, which is traditionally tied to holiday shopping in April.

Geographically, comparable-store sales were strongest in Texas and weakest in the desert southwest, California and Florida, Henry said.

Apparel sales drove a 4 percent comparable-store sales increase in the month and accounted for 78 percent of total same-store sales.

The company, which has been trying to focus on its apparel business than its offerings of footwear and accessories lately, witnessed increased demand for denims, tops and dresses.