The up-market department store chain's results come at a time when retailers ranging from Macy'sM.N to Dick's Sporting GoodsDKS.N are reeling from a weaker consumer spending environment and are eyeing a dull second half of the year. Adds shares in paragraph 2 Aug 24 (Reuters) - Nordstrom JWN.N beat expectations for quarterly revenue on Thursday, benefiting from steady demand from affluent shoppers at a time when still-high inflation is forcing consumers to rethink their non-essential purchases. Net sales in its eponymous stores dropped 10.1%, while Nordstrom Rack posted a 4.1% decrease, both improving sequentially from the first quarter.