JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - www.wallstreetequityresearch.com gives shareholders valuable insight on department stores stocks JC Penney Company Inc. and Kohl's Corp.

While U.S. Department Stores are showing some signs of recovery since March, as reflected by the 80 percent increase of S&P's retail index, the June financial figures for the industry were mixed. U.S. department store sales came out level at $14.4 billion for the month of June, a slight increase of 0.5 percent as reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Two companies that will be eagerly awaiting the back to school rush to increase sales are JC Penney Company (NYSE: JCP) and Kohl's Corp. (NYSE: KSS).

Troubling to the industry is the recent increase in the price of cotton. Cotton prices have increased as U.S. inventories have dropped to their lowest level in over 5 years. Supply is down in part due to China's heightened demand and signs that India's cotton crop, second in size only to the U.S., will be lower due to unfavorable weather. U.S. Cotton inventories have fallen 93 percent since June 2nd.

Retailers are attempting to take a proactive approach to June's flat numbers using a multitude of approaches. The department stores are hoping that deep discounts and mid season sales will be enough to bring shoppers back into their stores in time to clear summer stock before starting the back to school season starts. Visit http://www.wallstreetequityresearch.com/ to understand the catalysts and forces driving or affecting department stores companies in today's economic environment.

Source: www.wallstreetequityresearch.com