UPDATE 1-Walmex same-store sales rise 1.5 pct in Feb

(Adds sales detail)

MEXICO CITY, March 4 (Reuters) - Mexican retailer Wal-Mart de Mexico said on Wednesday its same-store sales rose 1.5 percent in February from a year earlier as the slumping economy hurt consumers.

The results were better than the 1 percent drop in same-store sales predicted in a Reuters poll of analysts.

Total sales at Wal-Mart de Mexico (WALMEXV.MX), known as Walmex by analysts, were up 8.4 percent in February.

Mexico's economy has been hard hit as the deepening U.S. recession pinches demand for its manufactured exports, like cards and televisions. That has helped send unemployment in Mexico to its highest level since 1996.

With consumer confidence at historic lows, Mexican shoppers are cutting back.

Also, February had 28 days this year compared to 29 in 2008. Discounting that effect, same-store sales would have been up 5.4 percent, Walmex said in a statement.

Walmex, a unit of Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N), is trying to fight against the slowdown. In January, it said it would freeze prices on 500 Wal-Mart brand goods and priced more than 1,400 products at 10 pesos ($0.65). ($1=15.27 pesos) (Reporting by Noel Randewich, editing by Leslie Gevirtz)