Target October sales comparison nearly flat

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Target says sales in stores open at least one year edged down 0.1 percent in October as sales of necessities like healthcare products rose, but electronics and sporting goods sales were weaker.

Total sales for the four weeks ended Oct. 31 rose 3 percent to $4.54 billion.

Analysts expected sales in stores open at least one year to be flat compared with a year ago, when sales fell 4.8 percent.

The company said apparel sales were slightly stronger than a year ago, with sales of shoes, jewelry and accessories offsetting weaker newborn and infant and women's apparel.

Target, based in Minneapolis, expects sales in stores open at least one year to be flat in November.