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The May Department Stores Company Reports Sales For November ST. LOUIS, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The May Department Stores Company (NYSE:MAY) reported preliminary net sales of $1.39 billion for the four-week period ended Nov. 27, 2004, a 10.0% increase from $1.26 billion in the similar period last year. Store-for-store sales decreased 7.9%. November store-for-store sales decreased 7.7%, excluding the remaining 14 stores that May previously announced it will divest. Net sales for the first 10 months of fiscal 2004 were $10.79 billion, a 6.7% increase, compared with $10.11 billion during the first 10 months of fiscal 2003. Net sales were as follows: (dollars Fiscal Fiscal Percent Store-for-Store Decrease in millions) 2004 2003 Increase Actual Adjusted* November $ 1,386.9 $ 1,260.8 10.0% (7.9)% (7.7)% Year-to-date 10,788.9 10,109.8 6.7 (2.1) (1.6) * Excludes the remaining 14 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. November sales overall were not in line with our expectations. Dresses, ladies' moderate classic sportswear, men's sportswear basics, and coats and outerwear as well as other cold-weather categories throughout the store were among the weaker performers. The home furnishings business generally remained difficult. Sportswear appealing to a young-adult female customer and ladies' suits experienced sales increases, as did men's dress shirts, suit separates, and sportswear collections with modern styling. From brooches and diamond/CZ looks in jewelry to signature handbags, must-have items continued to perform well in fashion accessories as did luggage and tech gifts. Ladies' shoes, junior sportswear, and young men's apparel were also above the store trend. During November, May opened a Filene's store in Dartmouth, Mass., a Foley's store in Houston, Texas, and a location for The Jones Store in Kansas City, Kan., completing its plan to open eight department stores in fiscal 2004. May's Bridal Group opened three David's Bridal stores in November for a total of 22 new stores to date this year. The Bridal Group also opened two After Hours Formalwear stores for a total of 15 year-to-date. An additional eight David's Bridal stores and five After Hours stores will open by year-end. The May Department Stores Company currently operates 501 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 232 David's Bridal stores, 459 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: May Department Stores Company CONTACT: Sharon Bateman, +1-314-342-6494, for May Department Stores Company

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