Specialty retailer of leather outerwear, accessories and apparel in the United States Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc. has reported that sales for the four weeks ended January 28 decreased 10.2% to $27.4 million compared with $30.5 million for the four weeks ended January 29, 2005. Year-to-date sales decreased 9.8% to $398 million compared to $441.1 million for the same period last year. Sales for the prior year-to-date period included approximately $20.8 million in liquidation sales resulting from the transfer of inventory to an independent liquidator.

Comparable store sales decreased 12.7% for the four weeks ended January 28; this decrease compares with a 1.1% decrease in comparable store sales for the four weeks ended January 29, 2005. Year-to-date comparable store sales decreased 2.9% compared to an increase of 0.6% in the same period last year. Comparable store sales for the prior year-to-date period do not include sales from stores that were liquidated.