The numbers from Nordstrom suggest cautious consumer spending, echoing the general malaise in the department retail industry

Nordstrom on Thursday reported decreased sales and profitability for the second quarter of its fiscal year, in line with its department store rivals.

However, its results still above expectations on Wall Street. The upscale department retailer, whose corporate office is in Seattle, reiterated its financial forecast for the year, which calls for a decline in sales.

On Thursday, after initially rising, its shares decreased in after-market trading.

Nordstrom's net income for the three months that ended on July 29 was $137 million, or 84 cents per share. Comparatively, the same period last year generated $126 million, or 77 cents per share.

Sales fell 7.9% from $4.09 billion in the quarter to $3.77 billion overall.

Many sectors, according to Nordstrom, have advanced. For instance, sales of children's and men's clothing were higher than typical at both the Nordstrom locations and Nordstrom Rack. Women's clothing started to get better in the first quarter. Inventory levels are down 18% from last year, according to the chain. 

Nordstrom projects a 4% to 6% decline in revenue over the previous year. In addition, it projects annual earnings per share, excluding expenditures related to the closure of its Canadian operation, to be in the range of $1.80 and $2.20 per share.

The numbers are being issued as consumers continue to struggle with high inflation and rising interest rates, which are raising the cost of taking out a loan for a car, a house, or carrying credit card debt.