NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - For the first time in months, discount chains did not lead the retail pack, posting disappointing results right along with their struggling department store competitors as a later Thanksgiving and an uncertain economy continued to cloud the holiday season outlook.

As a group, specialty apparel chains posted November sales at stores open at least a year, a key gauge known as same-store sales, that were up 1.7 percent from a year earlier, with a big boost from Gap Inc., which reported a 9 percent jump in same-store sales, according to figures from Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, which tracks retail data.

By comparison, discount chains, which have been grabbing market share steadily from other retailers, posted a minuscule 0.7 percent rise in November same-store sales. Department stores were the worst-performing category, logging a decline of 6.7 percent for the month.

Part of the reason for the disappointing month is that Thanksgiving was late this year, pushing results for the ensuing Black Friday weekend, one of the biggest shopping periods of the year, into December. The calendar shift shaved about 2 percentage points off November sales, estimates Michael Niemira, BMG's chief economist. But even adjusting for that, sales still were disappointing, he said.

Department stores, for example, still logged a 5 percent decline overall excluding the Black Friday effect, he said.

"If we use 2 percentage points for the overall expected effect from the calendar shift, that's still a pretty weak reading, a 1.9 percent trend," Niemira said. "That's not strong at all. I guess what you can say is it's certainly consistent with the sluggish pace we've seen."

CNNfn's Chris Huntington takes a look at retailers' November same-store sales results and what they say about the sector. Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Many merchants are worried consumers, whose spending fuels two-thirds of the economy, will cut back on gift buying as they struggle under mountainous debt and worry about their jobs and a possible war with Iraq.

Retailers are offering big discounts early because of the Thanksgiving shift.

"There's no question it's been very anemic. Now the big question is, will the bargain hunt continue into the next 16 to 17 days before Christmas, or will consumers just simply go shopping?" said Kurt Barnard, president of Barnard's Retail Consulting.

Individually, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. posted a 2.6 percent increase in November sales at stores open at least a year, sharply lower than the 4.3 percent increase it reported a year earlier and hitting the low range of its forecast.

Wal-Mart's (WMT: Research, Estimates) modest sales increase comes just days after the world's biggest retailer reported record sales for Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that marks the kickoff of the holiday shopping season. However, Wal-Mart and other chains have warned that November sales results are likely to be hurt by the shortened holiday season, which pushes results for the critical Thanksgiving weekend into December.

Benton, Ark.-based Wal-Mart's November results include Black Friday but not the rest of the holiday weekend. The company said same-store sales at its Wal-Mart division increased 2.8 percent from a year ago, while same-store sales at Sam's Club, the company's warehouse club division, increased 1.3 percent.

Total company sales increased 10.3 percent to $21 billion from $19 billion a year earlier.

Meanwhile, other retailers posted November sales figures Thursday against the backdrop of uncertain holiday season sales and a sluggish economy.

Among the chains reporting sales Thursday at stores open at least a year, a key gauge known as same-store sales, were:

Best Buy; Cost co Wholesale Corp.; Dullard's; Gap Inc.; D.C. Penny; Kohl's; Pier 1 Imports Inc.; Sears; Shop Stores; Target;

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MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters)--The electronics retailer reported a 0.3 percent drop in third-quarter sales at stores open at least 14 months, compared with Wall Street expectations for a modest increase. Analysts expected third-quarter same-store sales growth of 0.5 percent to 2 percent.

Best Buy (BBY: Research, Estimates) said it expects third-quarter profit of 24 cents to 27 cents a share. In September it forecast 22 cents to 27 cents a share. Analysts polled by research firm First Call expected, on average, 22 cents a share.

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ISAIAH, Wash. (Reuters) -- Warehouse club operator Cost co Wholesale Corp. (COST: down $0.96 to $31.29, Research, Estimates) said November sales at its stores open at least a year rose 2 percent.

The retailer said total sales for the four-week period ended Dec. 1 climbed to $3.24 billion, up 7 percent from $3.04 billion a year earlier.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) -- Department store operator Dillard's Inc. (DDS: up $0.13 to $17.24, Research, Estimates) reported a 7 percent drop in November sales at stores open at least a year, its fifth straight monthly decline in same-store sales.

The retailer said total sales for the four-week period ended Nov. 30 reached $613.6 million, down from $666.4 million in the same period last year.

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SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters)--Gap (GPS: Research, Estimates) said November sales at stores open at least a year rose 9 percent, its second straight month of positive sales after a 29-month slide. The same-store sales growth contrasted with a 25 percent decline in November last year.

The company, which operates Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy stores, said total sales for the four weeks ended Nov. 30 were $1.3 billion, up from $1.2 billion a year earlier.

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J.C. Penney Co. (JCP: up $0.01 to $23.46, Research, Estimates) reported flat November same-store sales for its department stores, saying the results were impacted by the calendar shift, which chopped off sales for the Thanksgiving week.

Plano, Texas-based Penney reiterated fourth-quarter earnings guidance of 60 cents a share, in line with Wall Street forecasts, according to earnings tracker First Call. Penney said sales at its Eckerd drugstore chain rose 6.7 percent from a year ago, but said results were hurt by the effects of lower-priced generic drugs.

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MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (Reuters)- Kohl's Corp. (KSS: Research, Estimates) said November sales at stores open at least one year fell 3.4 percent, results that were worse than the company had expected. The mid-priced department store operator said total company sales reached $1.09 billion in the four-weeks ended Nov. 30, up 11.3 percent from the same period a year ago.

The retailer said last month it expected November same-store sales to be flat to up in the low-single digits, while December sales were expected to be up in the mid- to high-single digits.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) -- Apparel and toiletries retailer Limited Brands Inc. (LTD: down $1.00 to $15.00, Research, Estimates) said November sales at stores open at least a year, or same-store sales, fell 2 percent from a year earlier.

The Columbus, Ohio-based retailer, which operates the Victoria's Secret, Express and Bath & Body Works chains, said total sales in the four weeks ended Nov. 30 slipped to $815.4 million from $816.3 million last year, including results of Lerner New York.

Last month, Limited said it is selling its Lerner New York chain -- also known as New York & Co. -- to an investor group as it focuses on its other brands.

Excluding results of Lerner, Limited said November sales rose 3 percent to $751.1 million.

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FORT WORTH, Texas (Reuters) -- Pier 1 Imports Inc. said sales at its stores open at least a year rose 1.2 percent in November, prompting the home goods retailer to raise its third-quarter earnings forecast.

Pier 1, (PIR: up $0.41 to $20.04, Research, Estimates) which runs about 900 stores in the United States and Canada, reported total sales in the four weeks ended Nov. 30 rose 8.6 percent to $155 million from $142.7 million a year earlier.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based company said third-quarter earnings will range from 32 cents to 33 cents per share, above its previous forecast of 30 or 31 cents. The consensus estimate of analysts polled by First Call is 31 cents.

The retailer also still expects December sales to be up in the low single-digit range.

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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (Reuters) -- Sears Roebuck and Co., (S: up $0.36 to $27.29, Research, Estimates) the No. 4 U.S. retailer, posted a 10.9 percent drop in November sales at U.S. stores open at least a year, its 15th straight monthly decline, hurt by a late Thanksgiving.

Sears said total sales for the four-week period ended Nov. 30 reached $2.61 billion, down 8.7 percent from $2.86 billion for the same period a year before. It said it expects December same-store sales to be down in the mid-single digits on a percentage basis.

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GREEN BAY, Wis. (Reuters) -- Specialty and discount grocer ShopKo Stores (SKO: down $0.35 to $13.60, Research, Estimates) said its comparable store sales fell 11 percent in November, reflecting a later Thanksgiving holiday.

Total consolidated sales for the four weeks ended Nov. 30 were $288.4 million, down 11 percent from the $325.0 million a year earlier.

Looking ahead, the company reiterated that it expects its consolidated same-store sales to be flat in December because of increased advertising events.

Taking into account the later Thanksgiving, the company said it expects combined November-December same-store sales to show a percentage drop in the mid-single digits.

The company said it continues to expect 2002 earnings per share in the range of $1.35 to $1.45, excluding goodwill amortization expense and an accounting-related non-cash charge.

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MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) -- Target Corp. (TGT: down $0.08 to $35.08, Research, Estimates), the No. 3 U.S. retailer, reported a 6.7 percent decline in November sales at stores open at least a year, hurt by a late Thanksgiving that pushed demand into December.

The retailer, which operates its namesake discount stores as well as Marshall Field and Mervyn's department stores, said company-wide sales totaled $3.94 billion for the four-week period ended Nov. 30, up 1 percent from the same period last year.

Target had forecast that November same-store sales would be down 8 to 10 percent because of a shorter holiday shopping season.