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The May Department Stores Company Reports Sales Increase of 11.5% for March ST. LOUIS, April 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The May Department Stores Company reported preliminary net sales of $1.18 billion for the five-week period ended April 3, 2004, an 11.5% increase from $1.06 billion in the similar period last year. Store-for-store sales increased 10.1%. March store-for-store sales increased 10.9%, excluding the remaining 20 stores that May previously announced it will divest. Sales comparisons in March 2004 benefited from Easter occurring one week earlier this fiscal year and the related movement of a major sales promotion event from the first week of fiscal April 2003 to the last week of fiscal March 2004. The companyanticipates its April sales performance will be adversely affected by this calendar shift. Net sales for the first two months of fiscal 2004 were $2.06 billion, an 8.2% increase compared with $1.91 billion during the first two months of fiscal 2003. Net sales were as follows: Fiscal Fiscal Percent Store-for-Store Increase (dollars in 2004 2003 Increase Actual Adjusted * millions) March $ 1,181.0 $ 1,059.1 11.5% 10.1% 10.9% Year-to-date 2,061.3 1,905.2 8.2 6.7 7.5 * Excludes the remaining 20 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. Ladies' footwear, handbags, and accessories, led by shades of pink and bright colors, continued as standout performers in March. Jewelry and watches benefited from the emergence of new spring must-haves like chandelier earrings and pearl necklaces. Tailored looks gained importance throughout apparel and shoes, reflecting the underlying upswing in dressier merchandise, as well as the earlier Easter timing. The customer responded to suits in both ladies' and men's. Men's suit separates in modern interpretations also performed well, while dress shirts, neckwear, and belts drove the pick-up in men's furnishings. Young men's sportswear, particularly street collections, experienced brisk selling. Home decor and lifestyle merchandise for outdoors performed well. Luggage, small electrics, and portable electronics had solid performances in the home store as well. During March, May opened a Hecht's store at Mayfaire Town Center in Wilmington, N.C. In addition, May's Bridal Group opened one After Hours Formalwear store. The May Department Stores Company currently operates 440department 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 210 David's Bridal stores, 458 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. This release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While this release reflects all available information and management's judgment and estimates of current and anticipated conditions and circumstances and is prepared with the assistance of specialists within and outside the company, there are many factors outside of our control that have an impact on our operations. Such factors include but are not limited to competitive changes, general and regional economic conditions, consumer preferences and spending patterns, availability of adequate locations for building or acquiring new stores, and our ability to hire and retain qualified associates. Because of these factors, actual performance could differ materially from that described in forward-looking statements. For more information, contact Sharon Bateman on (314) 342-6494. DATASOURCE: May Department Stores Company CONTACT: Sharon Bateman, +1-314-342-6494, for May Department Stores Company

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