LITTLE ROCK, ARK. ? Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, lowered its sales forecast for August, citing slow back-to-school sales and the effects of Hurricane Charley. Its shares fell nearly 2 percent.

Wal-Mart had previously expected same-store sales to grow between 2 percent and 4 percent during the month. It advised Monday that the sales will range from flat to up 2 percent versus a year ago.

The deck was stacked in that Wal-Mart’s sales last August, which were up 6.9 percent in stores open at least a year, included the Labor Day holiday and came at a time when consumers were spending child-care tax credit refund checks.

This year, Labor Day falls within Wal-Mart’s September sales period and the government checks aren’t flowing anymore.

Retail consultant Kurt Barnard said discount chains won’t have a pleasant time reckoning August 2004 with the same month last year.

“The comparison isn’t going to be pleasant,” said Barnard, president of Barnard’s Retail Forecasting in Upper Montclair, N.J.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart said sales of school uniforms were strong but Barnard said other back-to-school sales were slow because children were waiting to see what the other kids are wearing before buying fashions.

Dan Geary, a Wal-Mart support manager, loads a pallet of relief supplies into a trailer at the Wal-Mart Super Center in Brandon, Fla. The supplies were sent last week to Hurricane Charley victims. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has lowered its sales forecast for August, citing Hurricane Charley's swipe across Florida and slower than expected back-to-school sales.

Sarah Henry, investment analyst with John Hancock Funds in Boston, said the investment community expected Wal-Mart to be hurt by temporary store closures in Florida and other pressures but was a little surprised by slow back-to-school sales.