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NEW YORK — Caught in the maelstrom of higher gas and food prices, Americans — even more affluent ones — are seeking shelter in wholesale clubs and discount apparel chains.

Low-price operators Costco Wholesale Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and TJX Cos. reported better-than-expected sales on Thursday, while traditional apparel chains J.C. Penney Co. and Limited Brands Inc. struggled.

"The smart shopper is in full bloom," said Craig R. Johnson, president of consultancy Customer Growth Partners. "They're looking to stretch their household budgets, and if you can get decent quality merchandise, why pay full price?"

"Smart shopping" is sweeping through all wage classes, analysts say, and it could spell trouble for retailers' profits and for the economy, too.

To lure customers, apparel chains are discounting more. First-quarter profits are slated to be down by 14.9 percent, according to Ken Perkins, president of RetailMetrics LLC, a research company in Swampscott, Mass. That compares with a projection in January of 5.3 percent profit growth.

Retailers' first quarter ended in April and companies will start reporting their financial results next week.

"Consumers are focusing on value and price points and stretching their dollars," said Perkins. "They are feeling the pinch on multiple fronts."

He and other analysts expect only a modest rise in sales in May and June as consumers spend tax rebate checks that are starting to arrive.

Because of an extra shopping day last month compared with a year ago, the retail industry expected sales to rise in April.

The UBS-International Council of Shopping Centers retail sales tally for the month rose 3.6 percent. The figure surpassed the 2 percent growth estimate and marks the biggest gain since March 2007, when the index was up 5.9 percent.

Sales for the two months combined were a tepid 1.6 percent, in line with the average sales growth since the beginning of the industry's fiscal year.

The surprise, however, was the growing gap between discounters and traditional retailers.

Discount chains registered a 3 percent same-store sales gain, while wholesale clubs posted a 9.2 percent gain.

Except for Wal-Mart, whose shares rose 33 cents to $57.16, investors pushed many retailers' shares down Thursday. Penney's stock fell 2.41 percent.

Target Corp. posted a 3.1 percent gain in same-store sales, below the 4.5 percent estimate, as consumers shopped for necessities and skipped higher-priced items such as jewelry.

Costco's 8 percent increase surpassed the 6.1 percent estimate, helped by higher gas prices.