Weis Markets Inc. on Tuesday announced fourth-quarter and year-end net income increases and sales decreases.

The company's net income increased 14.5 percent to $22.1 million during the fourth quarter, compared to $19.3 million during the same period a year earlier.

Fourth quarter earnings per share increased 15.3 percent to $0.83 per share, while operating income also increased 23.5 percent to $34.8 million.

Sales, however, decreased 5.9 percent to $694.3 million, compared to $737.8 million during the same quarter in 2011.

For the year, net income increased 9.2 percent to $82.5 million, compared to $75.6 million a year earlier.

Operating income also increased 11.2 percent to $127 million last year, and earnings per share increased $0.26 to $3.07 per share.

Sales decreased 1.9 percent last year to $2.7 billion.

"We continue to operate in an economy significantly impacted by slow economic growth, high unemployment and declining household income. As a result of these continuing trends, our customers were cautious in their spending in 2012," said Weis CEO David Hepfinger.