Retailers are reporting modest sales gains in May, following disappointing results in April, The Associated Press reported. According to Thomson Financial, among retailers that have reported figures so far, 15 retailers fell short of expectations, 13 beat projections and two met expectations.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which had its worst performance on record in April, had a 1.1 percent same-store sales gain last month, which was slightly below analysts’ estimate of 1.4 percent. The company’s apparel and home business divisions have struggled but store executives expect big improvements in those categories in the fourth quarter. The company also announced last week that it will scale back expansion plans for its Supercenters and will initiate a $15 million stock buyback. It also is going back to advertising low prices in response to shoppers’ concerns about rising gas prices.

Meanwhile, Costco Wholesale Corp. reported a same-store sales increase of 7 percent, above analysts’ expectations of 5.6 percent, and Limited Brands Inc. reported a sales gain of 3 percent, much better than the 1.6 percent decline analysts had forecast.