8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

May 31, 2012

(Date of Report, Date of Earliest Event Reported)

Stage Stores, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

1-14035

(Commission File Number)

NEVADA (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	91-1826900 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
10201 Main Street, Houston, Texas (Address of Principal Executive Offices)	77025 (Zip Code)

(800) 579-2302

(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events

 On May 31, 2012, Stage Stores, Inc. issued a News Release reporting its May 2012 sales results.  A copy of the News Release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

           (d) Exhibits

99 News Release issued by Stage Stores, Inc. on May 31, 2012, reporting its May 2012 sales results.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

	STAGE STORES, INC.
May 31, 2012	/s/ Oded Shein
(Date)	Oded Shein
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-99

Exhibit 99

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:

Bob Aronson

Vice President, Investor Relations

800-579-2302

(baronson@stagestores.com)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stage Stores Reports 8.0% Comparable Store Sales Increase for May

HOUSTON, TX, May 31, 2012 - Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SSI) today reported that total sales for the four week May period ended May 26, 2012 increased 11.0% to $130 million from $117 million in the prior year four week period ended May 28, 2011.  Comparable store sales for the month increased 8.0%.

The Company achieved comparable store sales increases in all of its families of business during May.  Categories with the largest same store sales gains were cosmetics, footwear, home & gifts, petites and young men’s.  Geographically, all regions had comparable store sales gains during the month, with the South Central and Southwest regions outperforming.

SALES SUMMARY

	Comparable Store Sales		Total Sales
	% Increase (Decrease)		($ in Millions)
Fiscal Period	2012	2011	2012	2011
1st Quarter	2.5	0.2	366	347
May	8.0	0.0	130	117
Year-To-Date (4 Mos)	3.9	0.1	496	464

Michael Glazer, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are extremely pleased with our strong 8.0% comparable store sales increase for May, which is the highest increase for May in the past ten years.  Our Mother’s Day promotions, including the event which shifted from April last year to May this year, provided a very strong start to the month, and that positive momentum was sustained throughout the remainder of the period.  Our May performance gets us off to a great start for the second quarter.”

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Stage Stores Reports

May Sales

Page - 2

Store Activity

The Company also reported that it opened new Steele’s stores in Kingsville and Penitas, TX during May.

About Stage Stores

Stage Stores, Inc. operates primarily in small and mid-sized towns and communities.  Its stores, which operate under the Bealls, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Peebles, Stage and Steele’s names, offer moderately priced, nationally recognized brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family. The Company operates 829 stores in 40 states.  The Company also has an eCommerce website.  For more information about Stage Stores, visit the Company’s web site at www.stagestoresinc.com.

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