Chico's reports slow growth

FORT MYERS — Women's retailer Chico's FAS says sales at stores opened longer than one year fell 1.6% in the third quarter ending Nov. 1 compared with the same quarter one year ago.

But because the company opened 87 net new stores, Chico's overall sales grew 1.5% to $665.6 million in the third quarter compared with the same quarter one year ago. Fort Myers-based Chico's FAS operates 1,557 stores under the brands Chico's, White House | Black Market, Soma Intimates and Boston Proper.

Chico's reported net income of $26.5 million in the third quarter compared with a net loss of $28.5 million in the same quarter in 2013. The loss in the third quarter last year was due to a one-time impairment charge due to the Boston Proper acquisition.