July 9 (Reuters) - Mall-based women's apparel retailer Bebe Stores Inc (BEBE.O) said it may post fourth-quarter earnings below its earlier forecast as sales at stores open at least a year slumped 29.2 percent.

Bebe - Summer 2009

For the fourth quarter ended July 4, the company expects earnings per share, before special items, to be at or below the low end of the range of 2 cents to 10 cents per share.

The Brisbane, California-based company said retail sales fell about 25 percent to $125.3 million during the quarter.

Shares of the company closed at $6.08 Wednesday 8 July on Nasdaq.

(Reporting by Viraj Nair; Editing by Anne Pallivathuckal)