Look at the results and comp's these retailers posted. They are not selling stuff anyone HAS to have so someone has plenty of disposable income.
From Marketwatch:
"Chico's FAS (CHS: news, chart, profile) posted fourth-quarter earnings of $25.6 million, or 29 cents a share, vs. $15.1 million, or 17 cents a share, in the same quarter the year before. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had been looking for a 28-cent per-share profit. Revenue at the women's clothing retailer rose to $215.5 million from $138.3 million. Separately, Chico's said its same-store February sales gained 28 percent over last year.
Shares of Chico's rose 30 cents after the bell, to $44.50.
Teen retailer Hot Topic (HOTT: news, chart, profile) posted earnings of $22.5 million, or 45 cents a share, for the fourth quarter, vs. $16.6 million, or 34 cents a share, last year. Analysts had been looking for a 45-cent per-share profit, according to Thomson First Call. Sales rose to $194.1 million from $148.3 million. Separately, Hot Topic said its February same-store sales were up 7.6 percent over the same month last year.
"Shares of Hot Topic fell 2.7 percent to $27.91 in after-hours dealings.
Other late movers in the retail sector included Aeropostale (ARO: news, chart, profile). The mall-based youth retail said February sales at stores open longer than a year soared 26.4 percent after a 3.1 percent decline in the same quarter a year ago. Total sales jumped 58.5 percent to $43.1 million from $27.2 million.
And American Eagle Outfitters (AEOS: news, chart, profile) reported that same-store sales of its namesake stores were 15.2 percent higher than the year-ago period while total sales catapulted 27.3 percent to $94.6 million.
Aeropostale shares slipped 2 cents to trade for $35."