CANTON, Mass., May 22 /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 first quarter of fiscal 2008.

Sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 decreased 2.7% to $107.6 million from $110.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2007. Comparable sales for the thirteen week period ended May 3, 2008 decreased 2.0% when compared to the same thirteen week period of the prior year.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2008, net income was $96,000, or $0.00 per diluted share, compared to net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 of $1.1 million, or $0.03 per diluted share. Results for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 include a loss from the Jared M discontinued operations of $0.4 million, or $(0.01) per diluted share.

"As we anticipated, our first quarter sales were impacted by the difficult economy and overall weakness in the men's apparel business, but we were able to maintain our merchandise margin rates and control our expenses," said David Levin, President and CEO of Casual Male. "We are also encouraged that while store traffic was down, our conversion rate and average sales transaction at Casual Male XL improved significantly in the first quarter."

2008 Guidance and Highlights

The Company continues to expect earnings per share for fiscal 2008 of approximately $0.25 to $0.30 per diluted share, based on an estimated total sales level of $470 to $480 million.

Investors are invited to listen to a broadcast of the Company's conference call to discuss its first quarter fiscal 2008 earnings results. The conference call will broadcast live today, Thursday, May 22, 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 466 Casual Male XL retail and outlet stores, 26 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 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 Company's strategic direction 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.

                              [tables to follow]



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


                                                  For the three months ended
                                                May 3, 2008       May 5, 2007

    Sales                                         $107,642          $110,631
    Cost of goods sold including occupancy          59,303            60,007
    Gross profit                                    48,339            50,624

    Expenses:
       Selling, general and administrative          43,320            43,342
       Depreciation and amortization                 4,168             4,024
    Total expenses                                  47,488            47,366

    Operating income                                   851             3,258

    Other income, net                                  130               138
    Interest expense, net                             (821)             (807)

    Income from continuing operations
     before income taxes                               160             2,589

    Provision for income taxes                          64             1,036

    Income from continuing operations                   96             1,553
    Loss from discontinued operations,
     net of taxes                                        -              (429)

    Net income                                         $96            $1,124

    Net income per share - basic
      Income from continuing operations              $0.00             $0.04
      Loss from discontinued operations              $0.00            ($0.01)
      Net income per share - basic                   $0.00             $0.03

    Net income per share - diluted
      Income from continuing operations              $0.00             $0.04
      Loss from discontinued operations              $0.00            ($0.01)
      Net income per share - diluted                 $0.00             $0.03

    Weighted-average number of common
     shares outstanding:
         Basic                                      41,391            42,191
         Diluted                                    41,692            44,383



                         CASUAL MALE RETAIL GROUP, INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                        May 3, 2008 and February 2, 2008
                                 (In thousands)


                                                 May 3, 2008  February 2, 2008
    ASSETS

    Cash and investments                            $6,381            $5,293
    Inventories                                    123,558           117,787
    Other current assets                            16,207            14,316
    Deferred income taxes                           28,527            28,617
    Property and equipment, net                     60,733            62,156
    Goodwill and other intangibles                  95,772            95,851
    Other assets                                     1,316             1,341
         Total assets                             $332,494          $325,361

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Accounts payable, accrued expenses
     and other liabilities                         $60,235           $65,080
    Notes payable                                   53,996            40,978
    Long-term debt, net of current portion          11,231            12,450
    Deferred gain, net of current portion           24,546            24,912
    Stockholders' equity                           182,486           181,941
         Total liabilities and
          stockholders' equity                    $332,494          $325,361

SOURCE Casual Male Retail Group, Inc.

CONTACT:
Jeff Unger, Vice President of Investor Relations of Casual Male Retail Group, Inc.
+1-561-514-0115
Andrew Bard of Weber Shandwick
+1-212-445-8368