Comparable Store Sales Increase 1.3% vs. 15.9% Decrease Last Year

FORT MYERS, Fla., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chico's FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS) today reported net sales for the thirteen-week period ended August 1, 2009 reached $419.9 million, compared to $405.2 million reported for the thirteen-week period ended August 2, 2008.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080211/CHICOSLOGO)

Comparable store sales for the 2009 second quarter increased 1.3% versus the 15.9% decrease for the 2008 period. Direct-to-consumer sales, which are not included in comparable store sales, increased 46% over second quarter 2008.

Based on preliminary operating results, the Company expects to report earnings per share for the second quarter in the range of $0.09 to $0.10, exclusive of any non-cash or special items, compared to the $0.04 reported for the like period last year.

A summary of comparable store sales and store count follows:

             Second Quarter Comparable Store Sales Increase/(Decrease)
                                           Second    Second
                                           Quarter   Quarter
                                            2009      2008
    Chico's/Soma Intimates                   0.4%    (17.1%)
    White House | Black Market               3.7%    (12.3%)
    Chico's FAS Consolidated                 1.3%    (15.9%)

                                    Company Stores
                        Beginning                  Ending     Ending Stores
                         Stores                    Stores        By Type
                        5/3/2009  Opened  Closed  8/1/2009  Frontline  Outlet
    Chico's               655        3      (6)      652       612      40
    White House |
     Black Market         344        2      (3)      343       327      16
    Soma Intimates         70        4       -        74        73       1
                          ---      ---     ---       ---       ---     ---
    Total Chico's FAS   1,069        9      (9)    1,069     1,012      57

Chico's FAS, Inc. will report the complete operating results for the quarter ended August 1, 2009 on Tuesday, August 25, 2009, before the opening of trading on the New York Stock Exchange that day.