Ross same-store sales up 3 percent

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Ross Stores Inc. (ROST.O) said on Thursday that sales at stores open at least a year rose 3 percent in December, as purchases of outerwear, dresses and shoes helped lift sales and gross margin above company expectations.

Analysts, on average, had been expecting the off-price retailer to post a rise of 0.8 percent, according to Reuters Estimates.

Total sales rose 12 percent during the five weeks ended January 5 to $755 million, said the company, which buys excess merchandise in bulk from manufacturers below wholesale prices.

(Reporting by Brad Dorfman; Editing by Dave Zimmerman)