Designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded apparel, footwear and accessories Jones Apparel Group, Inc. has reported financial results for the first quarter ended April 1 2006.

Revenues totalled $1,215.3 million, compared with $1,349.3 million in the first quarter of 2005.

Peter Boneparth, president and chief executive officer of the company, stated, "Our first quarter results were stronger than we had anticipated. The better than expected results were primarily realised in our better wholesale apparel businesses, which benefited from improved gross margins and lower operating expenses versus the year ago period. In addition, our collective moderate business, along with the wholesale footwear and accessories business each performed according to plan.”