7-Eleven Results Mixed

DALLAS -- 7-Eleven Inc., operator of 5,800 convenience stores in North America, reported a 4.2 percent increase in its U.S. same-store merchandise sales for December, on top of 2.5 percent for December 2000.

Total merchandise sales for December were $573 million, an increase of 5.1 percent over the December 2000 total of $545 million.

Gasoline sales for December dropped $49 million to $180 million as compared to $229 million in December 2000. Sales decreased 21.5 percent due to a 38-cent per gallon decline in the average price over last year. The average retail price per gallon was $1.12 compared to $1.50 in December 2000.

While sales were lower, the average gallons of gasoline sold per store increased 1.1 percent in December 2001, compared to the December 2000 figure.