YORK, Pa. — Bon-Ton Stores Inc.’s said Thursday, Jan. 7, that sales fell in December, but were better than senior management had anticipated.

For the five weeks ending Jan. 2, comparable-store sales, a key indicator of a retailer’s health, dropped 2.6 percent over the year-ago period. Bon-Ton is the parent company of Elder-Beerman Stores, which has several locations in the Dayton area.

Total sales for December fell 3 percent to $511.1 million, versus $527.2 million during the corresponding period last year.

Year to date, the company saw comparable-store sales fall 6.1 percent. And total sales for the period dropped 6 percent to $2.78 billion, versus total sales of $2.96 billion a year earlier.

“We are pleased with our December sales results, which exceeded expectations despite the snow storms that negatively impacted our performance on key selling days,” Tony Buccina, vice chairman and president, said in a statement.

Shares of Bon-Ton (Nasdaq: BONT) were trading at $11.06, up 35 cents or 3.27 percent, in the morning session.

The stock has a 52-week range of 96 cents and $14.47.