Department-Store operator Macy's Inc. said today it is closing 11 stores in nine U.S. states amid lower than expected profits and declining sales.

Macy's reported its same-store sales for December dropped 4 percent. The closing of stores involves cutting about 960 jobs. Clearance sales are scheduled to start as soon as next week.

Macy's stores closing are:

- Ernst & Young Plaza (Citicorp Plaza), Los Angeles. (136 employees, opened in 1986)

- The Citadel, Colorado Springs, Colo. (105 employees, opened in 1984)

- Westminster Mall, Westminster, Colo. (110 employees, opened in 1986)

- Palm Beach Mall, West Palm Beach, Fla. (71 employees, opened in 1979)

- Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii (3 employees, opened in 1983)

- Lafayette Square, Indianapolis (84 employees, opened in 1974)

- Brookdale Center, Brooklyn Center, Minn. (72 employees, opened in 1966)

- Crestwood Mall, St. Louis (176 employees, opened in 1969)

- Natrona Heights Plaza, Natrona Heights, Pa. (124 employees, opened in 1956)

- Century III Furniture and Clearance, West Mifflin, Pa. (3 employees, opened in 2000)

- Bellevue Center, Nashville, Tenn. (76 employees; opened in 1990)

Florida