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ST. LOUIS, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The May Department Stores Company (NYSE:MAY) reported preliminary net sales of $927.4 million for the four-week period ended July 30, 2005, a 13.4% increase from $817.9 million in the similar period last year. Store-for-store sales decreased 3.3%. Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 were $3.45 billion, a 16.6% increase compared with $2.96 billion during the second quarter of fiscal 2004. Net sales for the first half of fiscal 2005 were $6.81 billion, a 15.1% increase compared with $5.92 billion during the first six months of fiscal 2004. Net sales were as follows: Fiscal Fiscal Percent Store-for-Store (dollars in millions) 2005 2004 Increase Decrease July $ 927.4 $ 817.9 13.4% (3.3)% Second quarter 3,445.4 2,955.6 16.6 (1.6) Year-to-date 6,814.8 5,918.5 15.1 (3.4) Net sales include merchandise sales and lease department income. Store- for-store sales compare sales of stores open during both years beginning the first day a new store has prior-year sales and exclude sales of stores closed during both years. During July, May opened a new Kaufmann's store in Pittsburgh, Pa., and the Bridal Group opened one David's Bridal store and one After Hours Formalwear store. Six additional department stores are planned for 2005: three Foley's stores in Loveland, Colo., and San Antonio and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; a Hecht's store in N. Charlotte, N.C.; a Kaufmann's store in Columbus, Ohio; and a Robinsons-May store in Simi Valley, Calif. The Bridal Group plans to open an additional 14 David's Bridal stores and 11 After Hours stores by year-end. The May Department Stores Company currently operates 487 department stores under the names of Famous-Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's, Kaufmann's, Lord & Taylor, L.S. Ayres, Marshall Field's, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May, Strawbridge's, and The Jones Store, as well as 243 David's Bridal stores, 452 After Hours Formalwear stores, and 11 Priscilla of Boston stores in its Bridal Group. May operates in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For further information, contact Sharon Bateman at 314-342-6494. DATASOURCE: The May Department Stores Company CONTACT: Sharon Bateman of The May Department Stores Company, +1-314-342-6494

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