Macy's to close stores

NEW YORK (AP) -- - Macy's says it will close 11 underperforming stores in 9 states after one of the weakest holiday seasons in years.

The Cincinnati-based department store company says 960 employees will be affected.

Macy's says the closures will cost about $65 million.

The news comes as the company says its December sales at stores open at least a year fell 4 percent. That's better than the 5.3 percent drop analysts were expecting. However, Macy's is lowering its forecast for the fourth quarter and full year due to heavy markdowns.

Here is a list of which ones are closing:
-- Ernst & Young Plaza (Citicorp Plaza), Los Angeles. (136 employees, opened in 1986)
-- The Citadel, Colorado Springs, Colo. (105 employees, opened in 1984)
-- Westminster Mall, Westminster, Colo. (110 employees, opened in 1986)
-- Palm Beach Mall, West Palm Beach, Fla. (71 employees, opened in 1979)
-- Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii (3 employees, opened in 1983)
-- Lafayette Square, Indianapolis (84 employees, opened in 1974)
-- Brookdale Center, Brooklyn Center, Minn. (72 employees, opened in 1966)
-- Crestwood Mall, St. Louis (176 employees, opened in 1969)
-- Natrona Heights Plaza, Natrona Heights, Pa. (124 employees, opened in 1956)
-- Century III Furniture and Clearance, West Mifflin, Pa. (3 employees, opened in 2000)
-- Bellevue Center, Nashville, Tenn. (76 employees; opened in 1990)