The Cato Corporation, a women’s fashion retailer, reported September same-store sales that increased by five percent on Thursday in a press release.

“September same-store sales continued our positive trend,” said CEO John Cato. “However, September same-store sales benefited from the negative impact of Hurricane Florence last year.”

The sales for the five week period ending Oct. 5 were up two percent at $70.5 million versus last year. Sales for the 35 week period were $565.3 million, down one percent compared to a year ago.

Cato currently operates 51 fewer stores than a year ago and is in 31 states versus the prior year’s 33.

“September tariffs have been implemented, and we remain cautiously optimistic as we evaluate the impact of these and future tariffs,” Cato noted in the statement.

Cato, founded in 1946, is a women’s retail clothing store that also sells accessories and shoes. Shares of Cato were trading at $17.60 on Friday, up 33 cents.