Those returns equal 12 percent of all clothing sales.

And guess what - men's clothing sales have been dropping for three years, at least.

The better showing among apparel retailers was particularly interesting because February is not usually a strong month for clothing sales.

That figure masked a 9.1 percent fall in clothing sales and a reduced share of the market.

But clothing sales, a small operation at Pier 1's 640 stores, are way down this year.

Many reasons have been offered for the increase in men's clothing sales, especially higher-priced suits.

But discounting lifted clothing sales for the second straight month.

And online clothing sales have done nothing to combat such gloom.

But today it seems that clothing sales are already at a crashing halt.

Not only that, the department stores' share of clothing sales is shrinking.