US footwear group, The Stride Rite Corporation has reported improved third quarter fiscal 2006 sales of $177.5 million, an increase of 21% compared with the same period in the prior year. Net income for the third quarter totalled $8.5 million compared with net income of $7.7 million in the third quarter of 2005.

For the first nine months, net sales reached $554.9 million, an increase of 22% from the net sales of $456.5 million for the same period in 2005.

According to the company, the Stride Rite Children’s group’s sales were up 8%; Keds made progress on its turnaround strategy, despite reporting 12% lower sales; Sperry Top-Sider sales rose 15%; whilst Tommy Hilfiger footwear sales declined significantly in the third quarter reflecting lower sales across all retail channels.