HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Signet Jewelers Ltd ('Signet') (NYSE and LSE: SIG), the world's largest specialty retail jeweler, today announced its sales performance for the 13 weeks from February 1 to May 2, 2009.

Group same store sales declined by 2.9% in the 13 week period. Total sales were down by 7.3% on a reported basis to $762.6 million (13 weeks to May 3, 2008: $822.5 million) reflecting an underlying decrease of 1.1% at constant exchange rates (see Note 1). The average US dollar exchange rate for the period was $1.45/1 pound Sterling (13 weeks to May 3, 2008: $1.98/1 pound). The breakdown of the sales performance was as follows:

                           Sales               Change on Previous Year
                           -----               -----------------------
                       $m    % of Total   Reported   At Constant    Same Store
                                                    Exchange Rates    Sales
    US                624.8       81.9%    (1.0)%       (1.0)%       (2.6)%
    UK                137.8       18.1%   (28.0)%       (1.7)%       (4.2)%(a)
    GROUP             762.6      100.0%    (7.3)%       (1.1)%       (2.9)%
    (a)  H.Samuel same store sales were down by 2.0% and Ernest Jones by 6.7%.

Terry Burman, Group Chief Executive, commented, 'US same store sales were down 2.6%, an encouraging performance compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. Valentine's Day trading was stronger than the remainder of the period, with differentiated merchandise performing particularly well. While Kay achieved an increase in same store sales, Jared was adversely affected by the general weakness in spending among households with above average incomes.

In the UK, same store sales were down by 4.2%, with performance a little weaker towards the end of the period.