US specialty retailer Nordstrom, Inc. has reported net earnings of $156.8 million for the first quarter ended May 5, up from $131.2 million in the same period last year.

Total sales increased 9.3% to $1.95 from $1.79 billion, whilst same-store sales improved 9.5%, exceeding the company's mid-single digit forecast.

Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, Nordstrom now operates 98 full-line stores, 50 Nordstrom Racks, four Faconnable boutiques in the USA, one free-standing shoe store, and two clearance stores. It also operates 36 Faconnable boutiques in Europe.