June Comp Sales Soft at B&N

Comparable-store sales at Barnes & Noble's superstores rose 0.6% in June, less than expected. The company said that given the softness in same-store sales through the first five months of the fiscal year, it is now forecasting that comparable-store sales for its superstores will be up 1% to 2% for the six months ending July 31. Original predictions called for a 2% to 3% gain. Same-store sales at Dalton were down 3% in the month. Among the new titles to hit B&N's bestsellers list were The Lovely Bones, Beach House, Fire Ice and Slander.