express inc narrowed its loss in the first quarter as it reported significant increases in net sales and samestore sales the apparel retailer posted a net loss of 119 million or 18 cents a share for the 13week quarter ended april 30 compared with a loss of 457 million or 70 cents a share in the same period a year ago excluding a 5 million noncash hit to its deferred tax asset valuation allowance the companys adjusted loss was 10 cents a share analysts surveyed by factset had expected a loss of 13 cents a share firstquarter sales rose to 4508 million from 3458 million last year with a 32 increase in comparable retail sales which includes sales from express stores and online the company said its online sales demand grew 21 and that it managed to leverage the increased sales to lower its overhead expense rate