Retailer J.C. Penney Co. Inc., said on Monday that sales at department stores open for at least a year are expected to rise 4.5% in December, above the company’s original expectations, helped by higher sales in the days before Christmas, Reuters reports.

At department stores, fine jewelry, home, children’s and men’s products were among the best sellers in the latest week, the company said.

The company originally expected same-store sales to be up in the low single digits in December.

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