61.   Other discount chains are chipping away at toy store sales and profit margins.

62.   Once again, discount chains generally fared better than department stores.

63.   Or it could come from one of the independent companies, like Handleman and Anderson, that do the entertainment buying for most discount chains.

64.   Over the last year or so, a sluggish economy has had consumers looking for value at discount chains and shopping less at more expensive department stores.

65.   Part of the reason, they say, is that discount chains sell popular drugs at a loss to generate customer traffic.

66.   Partly as a result, discount chains fared better than most.

67.   Regional discount chains -- including Hills Stores Co., Ames Department Stores Co. and Bradlees Inc. -- are expected to have the worst results among discounters.

68.   Regional discount chains lack the size to compete against giants such as Wal-Mart, they said.

69.   Regional discount chains such as Ames may be an endangered species.

70.   RETAIL GROWTH WEAK IN APRIL Large retailers reported weak sales growth in April, with discount chains like Wal-Mart and Target reporting the best results.