NEW YORK -- Lehman Brothers has lowered both its fourth quarter and fiscal year earnings estimates for Home Depot Inc. due to sluggish retail sales.

Lehman said it cut its 2001 earnings estimate to $1.38 from $1.40 a share for America's No. 1 home-improvement retailer. Lehman also lowered its forecast for the fourth quarter by a penny, to 24 cents from 25 cents.

Home Depot launched a chain-wide 10%-off sale from Dec. 21 to Dec. 24 in an effort to boost weak sales.