SOUTHLAND

May Sales Figures Due: Major retail chains--those based in Southern California and those with a major Southland presence--will report May sales figures Thursday. Most of the nation’s chains reported weak sales in April, a disappointment to retailers, which had sought to woo cautious consumers with Easter-season fashions. Los Angeles-based Broadway Stores and Dayton Hudson (operator of the Target and Mervyn’s chains) are among those hoping for a resurgence in May. Retailers in Southern California have generally had a difficult year, and recent sales trends indicate a slowdown in the regional economy.