Retail store operator Ross Stores Inc. announced recently that an important key sales figure rose by a total of 9% for the month of October. The company attributed the jump to a large number of consumers looking for bargains. Ross Stores Inc. also boosted their third quarter guidance.

The company boosted their profit guidance for the third quarter to between $0.83 and $0.84 per share. This is higher compared to the previous forecast of between $0.75 to $0.77. The company raised their guidance due to sales and margins exceeding expectations.

Analysts from Thomson Reuters polled the company’s sales at 7.3% growth. The results, however, have proven the analysts wrong as the company has seen a 9% percent jump in sales for stores that have been open for 12 months or more. Analyzing the sales figure can give insights as to how a retail company is faring.

Total sales for the retail company rose to $557 million or 14% for a four week period which terminated last October 31, 2009. Sales for recently opened stores have been excluded to ensure that there are no distortions in the year-to-year comparisons.

Nine months prior to October 31, 2009, the company’s sales for stores which have been open for 12 months or more have risen by 5%. Ross Stores Inc.’s total sales for that time period rose to $5.2 billion or 10%.

About Ross Stores Inc.: Ross Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates two chains of off-price retail apparel and home accessories stores in the United States. Its stores offer branded and designer apparel, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family, as well as gift items, linens, and other home-related merchandise.

The company’’s merchandise offerings also comprise product categories, such as small furniture and furniture accents, educational toys and games, luggage, gourmet food and cookware, watches, sporting goods, and fine jewelry.

As of January 31, 2009, it operated 956 stores, including 904 Ross stores and 52 dd’s DISCOUNTS stores. The company was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.