J.C. Penney is delaying store closings

J.C. Penney stores have seen "better than expected sales and traffic" in the weeks since the company announced it would close 138 stores, so plans have changed.

At least for a while.

A surge of customers looking for bargains as stores close has pushed back liquidation sales until May 22 and store closings to July 31, Joey Thomas, a spokesman for the company, told USA Today in an interview Thursday.

"Since announcing store closures, affected locations have seen better than expected sales and traffic," J.C. Penney spokesman Thomas told USA TODAY. Because of the increase in sales, it's "advantageous for the company to continue selling through spring and summer merchandise at current promotional levels by pushing liquidation back another month," Thomas said.

J.C. Penney said it expected annual savings of about $200 million from the cost-cutting measures when the company announced the closings.

ExploreClick here to see the stores that are set to be closed.

About the Author

Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Georgia honors women in uniform amid debate over their roles in combat

Females in uniform like Amy Stevens are being recognized in Atlanta parade, history exhibit and Georgia hall of fame before Veterans Day as combat roles for women are debated.

UPS warns of delivery delays after its plane crash at Louisville hub

The disruption of operations at UPS’ largest hub continues to have some effects, while an investigation and recovery operation continue at the Louisville crash site.

Louisville plane crash response in ‘recovery mode,’ UPS operations disrupted

12 are confirmed dead, believed to include a child, according to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. They do not expect to find survivors at this point, he said.

The Latest