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The May Department Stores Company Reports Sales Decrease Of 2.4% For October ST. LOUIS, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The May Department Stores Company reported preliminary net sales of $887.2 million for the four-week period ended Nov. 1, 2003, a 2.4% decrease from $909.1 million in the similar period last year. Store-for-store sales decreased 4.2%. October store-for-store sales decreased 3.5%, excluding the remaining 32 stores that May previously announced it will divest. For the third quarter of fiscal 2003, net sales were $2.98 billion, a 0.5% decrease compared with $2.99 billion during the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2003 were $8.85 billion, a 2.9% decrease, compared with $9.12 billion during the first nine months of fiscal 2002. Net sales were as follows: Fiscal Fiscal Percent Store-for-Store Decrease (dollars in millions) 2003 2002 Decrease Actual Adjusted * October $887.2 $909.1 (2.4)% (4.2)% (3.5)% Third quarter 2,976.0 2,991.2 (0.5) (2.4) (2.1) Year-to-date 8,848.9 9,117.4 (2.9) (4.8) (4.6) * Excludes the remaining 32 stores that May previously announced it will divest. 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 October, May opened a Kaufmann's store at The Waterfront in Pittsburgh and a Famous-Barr store at Biscayne Mall in Columbia, Mo. May's Bridal Group opened four new David's Bridal stores during October for a total of 20 stores year-to-date. An additional 10 David's stores will open by year-end. The May Department Stores Company currently operates 450 department stores under the names of Lord & Taylor, Famous-Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's, Kaufmann's, L.S. Ayres, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May, Strawbridge's, and The Jones Store, as well as 200 David's Bridal stores, 328 After Hours Formalwear stores, and 10 Priscilla of Boston stores in its Bridal Group. May operates in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more 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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