Stein Mart's sales at stores open at least a year rise 2.6 percent in June

Discount store operator Stein Mart said Thursday that its June sales at stores open at least a year climbed 2.6 percent.

This figure is considered a key gauge of a retailer's health because it excludes results from locations recently opened or closed.

Total revenue for the five weeks ended July 5 rose 4 percent to $113.2 million.

Stein Mart Inc. said its strongest sales in June were in Florida, California and North and South Carolina. There was weakness in Texas and the Gulf states.

Stein Mart, based in Jacksonville, Florida, ran 265 stores at the end of June.