Cosmetic Center

The Cosmetic Center Inc., a Savage-based discount retailer of beauty products and perfume, reported healthy gains in earnings and sales during a quarter when many retailers were staggered by the recession.

The company reported a 12.6 percent gain in earnings for its first fiscal quarter, which ended Dec. 27, with a strong 11 percent gain over 1990 in sales at stores that had been open at least a year. Total sales rose 16.9 percent as the company expanded to 37 stores in the Baltimore-Washington area, Chicago and Richmond, Va. The company said it has signed leases to open three more stores by summer, in Ellicott City, Chevy Chase and Chantilly, Va.

Three months ending 12/27/91

.. .. .. .. Revenue.. .. .. Net.. .. .. .. Share

'91.. .. ..32,502,000.. ..1,128,000.. .. 0.36

'90.. .. .. 27,800,000.. .. 1,002,000.. .. 0.32

% change.. .. .. +16.9.. .. .. .+12.6.. .. +12.5