Capitalizing on their strong April performances, Aeropostale and Chicos again top our list of Top 10 retail performers, driven by strong merchandising. It is not surprising that their respective share prices are also flying high - the old chicken or the egg conundrum? ... Costco consistently performs well but its brethren BJ's and Sams also shone in this category, perhaps reflecting the improving economy but also that cost conscious consumers are still seeking to save a buck or two. ... Other off-priced retailers, Filene's Basement and Stein Mart saw the benefit of a renewed interest in apparel offerings. ... Fashion Bug's merchandising of misses and plus sportswear which lured increased traffic, boosted its comps while Gap U.S. racked up a consistently strong performance. ... Big George, off the grill and into the malls, has pulled big and tall boys into the shopping arena, giving Casual Male a knockout 11.9% comp gain.

As you might expect, Aeropostale, Stein Mart and Costco, among our top ten performers for the month, also made our rising star category, though Aeropostale and Stein Mart had the luxury of measuring against low comps last year. ... Easy comparisons were also the order of the day for struggling Wet Seal, which continues to flounder in deep water and Lane Bryant, which continues to have difficulty stocking its shelves with fashionable spring/summer attire. ... Lux-fashions continues to dominate Saks racks causing register rings to hit new highs. ... Classic fashion brought to life by spring colors and a new look delivered seasonal success at Talbots. ... The off-price shopper found anything but dank and dreary selections in Filene's Basement, rocketing this retailer to the penthouse. ... Warmer than normal temperatures across much of the Southeast turned value conscious belles out in droves to take advantage of the values being offered at Cato. ... Looking to payless and outfit the whole family with summer footwear led families to run, not walk, to Payless ShoeSource.

Bankrupty is not a boon to some retailers, bombarding Gadzooks and Spiegel/Eddie Bauer for the month of May, both because of the absence of inventory liquidation sales which bolstered sales in the prior year. ... With interest rates rising and new home starts slowing, it is no wonder that companies focused on home decorating saw their comps falter. Bombay, Pier 1, Haverty Furniture and Hancock Fabrics all saw substantial comp declines with the usual merchandising, disappointing promotional events and timing of the Memorial Holiday being blamed. The calendar was also named as the cause for Gottschalks' comp drop rather than customers looking elsewhere for their "Gott"a-haves. ... "Limit"s on consumer spending and a change in promotional strategy brought double digit comp declines at Limited Stores although Limited Brands as a whole tapped into the secret desires of lingerie lovers at Victoria's Secret. ... With turnaround initiatives not yet visible, Wet Seal still makes our list of Bottom 10 retailers even though concurrently it ranks as a "Rising Star" after recovering from the great depths of a 25% comp decline to a "mere" 7.8% fall in the current month.

Still trying to clear its stores of stale inventory bought last winter, The Bombay Company leads our falling stars for the month of May. ... Though showing a sharp comp store sales increase, the Sharper Image was looking at a very tough comparison to last year and Old Navy found it difficult to close "the gap" on last year's remarkable performance. ... A shift in promotional events surrounding Memorial Day proved to be a "gotcha" for Gottschalks for the month of May and it looks to make up the shortfalls in June. ... Approaching the one year anniversary of its shift to a female-only concept, Gadzooks' comps continue to be impacted by last year's mens liquidation sales. ... Mothers-to-be were not thrilled with the spring selections being offered at Mothers Work, seeking other outlets to satisfy their cravings. ... Male shoppers found the value offerings at S&K Famous Brands not very compelling at any price. ... Few and fewer shoppers are able to find any value at Value City Department Stores as the company has made our falling stars club for the second consecutive month.

The rainy April that forced shoppers into malls in droves gave way to May, which blossomed with an expansive color palette and fun frocks. After months in the doldrums, both Apparel and Department Stores carried the forward April momentum into May while their more cost conscious cousins value shopped at the "clubs" and other Mass Merchants. Well shod feet followed suit, forcing Footwear Retail comps higher as well. On the flip side, Home Furnishings, which had benefited for months from low interest rates and a focus on hearth and home, faltered under the weight of ill-favored merchandise offerings and tougher comparisons.