JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Stein Mart, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMRT) today reported total sales and comparable store sales for the fiscal period(s) ended October 3, 2009.

                            Total Sales (in millions)      Percent Change
                            ------------------------------------------------
                                                        Total     Comparable
    Fiscal period                 2009      2008        Sales    Store Sales
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    September (5 weeks)          $101.9    $112.0       (-9.0)%    (-5.4)%
    Quarter-to-date (9 weeks)    $178.0    $198.8      (-10.5)%    (-6.9)%
    Year-to-date (35 weeks)      $785.1    $862.6       (-9.0)%    (-6.5)%

During September, ladies' dresses, ladies' casual sportswear, and men's sportswear produced positive comparisons, while the most difficult businesses were ladies' career sportswear and gifts. Stores in the West, from Texas through California, performed better than the Company trend, while stores in the Southeast continued to under perform.

There were two closings in the store network in September. There were 268 stores in operation at October 3, 2009 as compared to 280 at the same time last year.

About Stein Mart

Stein Mart stores offer the fashion merchandise, service and presentation of a better department or specialty store, at prices up to 60 percent off department and specialty store original prices, every day. Currently with locations from California to Massachusetts, Stein Mart's focused assortment of merchandise features current season, moderate to better fashion apparel for women and men, as well as accessories, gifts, linens and shoes.

SMRT-S

Additional information about Stein Mart, Inc. can be found at www.steinmart.com

SOURCE Stein Mart, Inc.