CANTON, Mass., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Casual Male Retail Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMRG), retail brand operator of Casual Male XL, Rochester Clothing, B&T Factory Direct, LivingXL and ShoesXL, announced today its sales and operating results for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008.

Comparable sales for the thirteen week period ended August 2, 2008 increased 0.3% when compared to the same period of the prior year. For the twenty-six week period ended August 2, 2008 comparable sales decreased 0.8% as compared to the same period of the prior year. Total sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2008 remained flat at $113.5 million as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2007. For the first six months of fiscal 2008, total sales decreased 1.4% to $221.1 million as compared to $224.2 million for the same period in the prior year.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2008, net income was $1.9 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 of $2.5 million, or $0.06 per diluted share. For the first six months of fiscal 2008, net income was $2.0 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $3.6 million, or $0.08 per diluted share for the first six months of fiscal 2007.

"Despite the continued weakness in the economy and in the men's apparel business, we saw an improvement in our sales performance trends this past quarter. Although overall store traffic continues to be down, our conversion rates and average sales transactions are up, which indicate to us we are executing well in this difficult retail environment," said David Levin, President and CEO of Casual Male.

2008 Guidance and Highlights

The Company has revised its earnings guidance for fiscal 2008 to $0.22 to $0.27 per diluted share, a decrease of $0.03 per diluted share from prior guidance, based on an estimated total sales level of $470 to $475 million. The earnings guidance was adjusted primarily as a result of expectations of continued weakness in the economy and softness in traffic and sales trends.

Investors are invited to listen to a broadcast of the Company's conference call to discuss its second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 earnings results. The conference call will broadcast live today, Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time at www.casualmalexl.com and then click on the investor relations icon. The call will be archived online within one hour after its completion. Participating in the call will be David Levin, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Dennis Hernreich, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

During the conference call, the Company may discuss and answer questions concerning business and financial developments and trends. The Company's responses to questions, as well as other matters discussed during the conference call, may contain or constitute information that has not been disclosed previously.

Casual Male Retail Group, Inc., the largest retailer of big and tall men's apparel with operations throughout the United States, Canada and London, England, operates 463 Casual Male XL retail and outlet stores, 27 Rochester Clothing stores, and direct to consumer businesses which include several catalogs and e-commerce sites. The Company is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, and its common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "CMRG."

Certain information contained in this press release, including the Company's expectations regarding sales and operating results for fiscal 2008, constitutes forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws. The discussion of forward-looking information requires management of the Company to make certain estimates and assumptions regarding the overall retail environment and the Company's strategic plans and the effect of such plans on the Company's financial results. The Company's actual results and the implementation of its plans and operations may differ materially from forward- looking statements made by the Company. The Company encourages readers of forward-looking information concerning the Company to refer to its prior filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 26, 2008, that set forth certain risks and uncertainties that may have an impact on future results and direction of the Company.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this release. Subsequent events or circumstances occurring after such date may render these statements incomplete or out of date. The Company undertakes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update such statements.

                CASUAL MALE RETAIL GROUP, INC.
             CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
            (In thousands, except per share data)



                                          For the three      For the six
                                          months ended       months ended
                                       August 2, August 4, August 2, August 4,
                                          2008      2007      2008      2007

    Sales                              $113,475  $113,529  $221,117  $224,160
    Cost of goods sold including
     occupancy                           62,137    60,699   121,440   120,706
    Gross profit                         51,338    52,830    99,677   103,454

    Expenses:
      Selling, general and
       administrative                    43,485    42,875    86,805    86,217
      Depreciation and amortization       4,107     4,194     8,275     8,218
    Total expenses                       47,592    47,069    95,080    94,435

    Operating income                      3,746     5,761     4,597     9,019

    Other income, net                       132       138       262       275
    Interest expense, net                  (733)   (1,070)   (1,554)   (1,876)

    Income from continuing operations
     before income taxes                  3,145     4,829     3,305     7,418

    Provision for income taxes            1,258     1,931     1,322     2,965

    Income from continuing operations     1,887     2,898     1,983     4,453
    Loss from discontinued operations,
     net of taxes                           -        (425)      -        (854)

    Net income                           $1,887    $2,473    $1,983    $3,599


    Net income per share - basic
      Income from continuing operations   $0.05     $0.07     $0.05     $0.11
      Loss from discontinued operations   $0.00    ($0.01)    $0.00    ($0.02)
      Net income per share - basic        $0.05     $0.06     $0.05     $0.09

    Net income per share - diluted
      Income from continuing operations   $0.05     $0.07     $0.05     $0.10
      Loss from discontinued operations   $0.00    ($0.01)    $0.00    ($0.02)
      Net income per share - diluted      $0.05     $0.06     $0.05     $0.08

    Weighted-average number of common
     shares outstanding:
        Basic                            41,405    41,606    41,398    41,899
        Diluted                          41,689    43,338    41,690    43,878



                         CASUAL MALE RETAIL GROUP, INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                       August 2, 2008 and February 2, 2008
                                 (In thousands)


                                             August 2, 2008   February 2, 2008
    ASSETS

    Cash and investments                            $5,643            $5,293
    Inventories                                    112,742           117,787
    Other current assets                            14,647            14,316
    Deferred income taxes                           27,300            28,617
    Property and equipment, net                     60,794            62,156
    Goodwill and other intangibles                  99,143            95,851
    Other assets                                     1,255             1,341
      Total assets                                $321,524          $325,361

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Accounts payable, accrued expenses
     and other liabilities                         $57,367           $65,080
    Notes payable                                   44,896            40,978
    Long-term debt, net of current portion          10,013            12,450
    Deferred gain, net of current portion           24,180            24,912
    Stockholders' equity                           185,068           181,941
      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $321,524          $325,361

SOURCE Casual Male Retail Group, Inc.

CONTACT:
Jeff Unger, Vice President of Investor Relations of Casual Male Retail Group, Inc.
+1-561-482-9715
or
Andrew Bard of Weber Shandwick
+1-212-445-8368