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The May Department Stores Company Reports Sales for September ST. LOUIS, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The May Department Stores Company (NYSE:MAY) reported preliminary net sales of $1.34 billion for the five-week period ended Oct. 2, 2004, an 18.0% increase from $1.14 billion in the similar period last year. Store-for-store sales decreased 1.5%. September store-for-store sales decreased 1.3%, excluding the remaining 15 stores that May previously announced it will divest. September sales benefited by the movement of the pre-Labor Day sales promotion event to the first week of fiscal September 2004 from the last week of fiscal August 2003. Combined August and September store-for-store sales decreased 3.4%, excluding the 15 stores that May previously announced it will divest. Net sales for the first eight months of fiscal 2004 were $8.31 billion, a 4.4% increase, compared with $7.96 billion during the first eight months of fiscal 2003. Net sales were as follows: Fiscal Fiscal Percent Store-for-Store Decrease (dollars in millions) 2004 2003 Increase Actual Adjusted* September $1,339.2 $1,135.0 18.0% (1.5)% (1.3)% August/September 2,393.1 2,088.8 14.6 (3.9) (3.4) Year-to-date 8,311.7 7,961.7 4.4 (1.2) (0.6) * Excludes the remaining 15 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. September sales overall did not meet our expectations. Sportswear for the young-adult female customer, however, performed well, led by fashion looks in jackets, skirts, and tops. Trend-right newness also continued to fuel ladies' accessories which had sales increases in costume jewelry, better handbags, small leather goods, and layering pieces driven by ponchos and genuine fur/faux fur items. Sales of ladies' suits, junior sportswear, and young men's sportswear were above the trend for the total store, as were men's designer dress shirts, neckwear, and suit separates. Shoes, dresses, children's apparel, and men's sportswear lagged the store's performance. Electronic giftables and luggage were stronger-performing categories in the home, but home furnishings sales were generally weak. May's Bridal Group opened three David's Bridal stores in September for a total of 13 new stores to date this year. The Bridal Group also opened three After Hours Formalwear stores for a total of 11 year-to-date. An additional 17 David's Bridal stores and nine After Hours stores will open by year-end. The May Department Stores Company currently operates 497 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 223 David's Bridal stores, 457 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 more information, contact Sharon Bateman at (314) 342-6494. DATASOURCE: The May Department Stores Company CONTACT: Sharon Bateman for The May Department Stores Company, +1-314-342-6494

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