Wal-Mart: Sales Off for 3rd Week

Monday, December 18th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) â€” Blizzards and ice storms that sliced through the middle of the nation last week prevented Wal-Mart Stores Inc. from meeting sales projections for the third week in a row, the company said Monday.

Sales of outerwear and heavy clothing rose to ``the strongest level in the last few years,'' and the average total sale increased, Wal-Mart said in its weekly sales release. But snow and ice kept many customers away for another week of the holiday shopping season.

The company did not release figures.

Despite the three-week slump, Wal-Mart has not changed its earnings expectations for the quarter ending Jan. 31 because the shopping season ``has a ways to go yet,'' Wal-Mart spokesman Tom Williams said.

Wal-Mart is aiming for a 3 percent to 5 percent same-store sales rise for the quarter.

Shares of Wal-Mart were up 75 cents to $50.63 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.