Myer not outdoing us: David Jones boss

David Jones Ltd chief executive Mark McInnes says he doesn't believe the department store group has been outdone by rival Myer Holdings Ltd, after both companies released their first quarter sales on Thursday.

Myer surprised the market with its announcement, although the report had been expected in the near term following its listing on the stock exchange on Monday.

David Jones' first quarter sales increased by 2.2 per cent in the three months ended October 24 to $452.1 million from the same period a year ago and a lift in like-for-like sales of 1.9 per cent.

Myer reported sales growth for the same period of 5.2 per cent to $717.1 million, and a like-for-like sales rise of 2.9 per cent.

Asked what he thought of Myer releasing its sales figures on the same day, Mr McInnes laughed and said: "That probably sums up my response."

"I think that they think that they need to compete - okay, I mean fair enough," he said during a teleconference.

Mr McInnes said he didn't think David Jones had been outdone its oldest rival.

"[It's] a good result for them a good result for us...[being outdone is] not really the way we look at it," he told journalists.

"They trade in 30 more locations that we do, I don't think we're concerned about quarterly sales figures.

"On a like-for-like basis they're pretty similar."

"All that should tell you is that department stores, probably not discount department stores, but department stores are probably doing okay."

At 1233 AEDT David Jones share were down 16 cents, or 2.95 per cent to $5.26.

Myer was down one cent to $3.83, after rising as high as $3.91 earlier in the day. The stock was issued to investors at $4.10 a share and is yet to trade at the issue price.