CINCINNATI Cincinnati-based grocer chain Kroger reported a net loss for the third quarter of $874.9 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, the company reported Tuesday. These results include noncash asset impairment charges totaling $1.05 billion, after-tax, that primarily resulted from a goodwill write-down at the company's Ralphs division in southern California, the company noted in a release. Excluding these impairment charges, net earnings for the quarter would have been $176.7 million, or 27 cents per diluted share. Net earnings in the same period last year were $237.7 million, or 36 cents per diluted share. The silver lining, however, is that Kroger reported that its same-store sales for third quarter 2009 increased 1.3%. Total sales, including fuel, in the third quarter were $17.7 billion, compared with $17.6 billion for the same period last year. Excluding fuel sales, total sales increased 2.2% over the prior-year period.