Nordstrom December Same-Store Sales Increase 9.3 Percent

SEATTLE, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported preliminary sales of $1,046.0 million for the five-week period ending January 1, 2005, an increase of 11.7 percent compared to sales of $936.2 million for the five-week period ending January 3, 2004. Same-store sales increased 9.3 percent.

(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001011/NORDLOGO )

Preliminary quarter-to-date sales of $1.7 billion increased 9.5 percent compared to 2003 quarter-to-date sales of $1.6 billion. Quarter-to-date same store-sales increased 6.8 percent.

Preliminary year-to-date sales of $6.7 billion increased 11.0 percent compared to sales of $6.1 billion in 2003. Year-to-date same-store sales increased 8.5 percent.

SALES RECORDING

To hear Nordstrom's prerecorded December sales message, please dial +1-402-220-6036. This recording will be available for one week.

    SALES SUMMARY    December  December    QTD       QTD       YTD      YTD
    (unaudited;        2004       2003     2004      2003      2004     2003
     $ in millions)
    Total sales     $1,046.0     $936.2 $1,713.7  $1,564.6  $6,744.7 $6,075.9
    Total sales
     percentage
     change             11.7%      12.3%     9.5%     11.4%     11.0%     8.1%
    Same-store sales
     percentage
     change              9.3%       9.0%     6.8%      8.3%      8.5%     3.9%

    Number of stores
      Full-line           94         92
      Rack and other      56         56
      International
       Faconnable
       boutiques          31         31
      Total              181        179
    Gross square
     footage      19,439,000 19,138,000

    GAAP SALES PERFORMANCE

The additional information provided in this section is to comply with the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation G. The Company converted to a 4-5-4 Retail Calendar at the beginning of 2003. Year-to-date results for 2003 include one more day than the year-to-date for 2004. The Company believes that adjusting for this difference provides a more comparable basis from which to evaluate sales performance. The following reconciliation bridges the year-to-date 2003 GAAP sales to the 4-5-4 comparable sales.

                                YTD       YTD     Dollar    % Change  % Change
    Sales Reconciliation ($M)   2003      2004    Increase    Total     Comp
                                                              Sales     Sales
      Number of Days GAAP        337       336
      GAAP Sales              $6,094.1  $6,744.7  $650.6      10.7%     8.2%
      Less Feb. 1, 2003 sales   ($18.2)     --
      Reported 4-5-4 sales    $6,075.9  $6,744.7  $668.8      11.0%     8.5%
      4-5-4 Adjusted Days        336       336

    FUTURE REPORTING DATES

Nordstrom's financial release calendar for the next several months is currently planned as follows:

     January Sales Release               Thurs., Feb. 3, 2005
     Fourth Quarter Earnings             Tues., Feb. 15, 2005
     February Sales Release              Thurs., Mar. 3, 2005
     March Sales Release                 Thurs., April 7, 2005

Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers, with 150 US stores located in 27 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 94 full-line stores, 49 Nordstrom Racks, five Faconnable boutiques, one free-standing shoe store, and one clearance store. Nordstrom also operates 31 international Faconnable boutiques, primarily in Europe. Additionally, Nordstrom serves customers through its online presence at http://www.nordstrom.com and through its direct mail catalogs.

Investor Contact:
Stephanie Allen, +1-206-303-3262
Media Contact:
Deniz Anders, +1-206-373-3038

SOURCE Nordstrom, Inc. 01/05/2005
CONTACT: investors, Stephanie Allen, +1-206-303-3262, or media, Deniz Anders, +1-206-373-3038, both of Nordstrom, Inc.
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Web site: http://www.nordstrom.com
07:30 EST http://www.prnewswire.com