Nordstrom October Same-Store Sales Increase 11.5 Percent

SEATTLE, Nov 4, 2004 (PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX) -- Nordstrom, Inc. today reported preliminary sales of $511.9 million for the four-week period ending October 30, 2004, an increase of 13.5 percent compared to sales of $451.2 million for the four-week period ending November 1, 2003. Same-store sales increased 11.5 percent.

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

Preliminary quarter-to-date sales of $1.5 billion increased 9.4 percent compared to 2003 quarter-to-date sales of $1.4 billion. Quarter-to-date same-store sales increased 8.1 percent.

Preliminary year-to-date sales of $5.0 billion increased 11.5 percent compared to sales of $4.5 billion in 2003. Year-to-date same-store sales increased 9.1 percent.

Nordstrom will open its 94th full-line store at Dadeland Mall in Miami, Fla. on Friday, November 12th.

SALES RECORDING

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

SALES SUMMARY  October    October    QTD       QTD       YTD       YTD
  (unaudited;     2004        2003     2004      2003      2004      2003
 $ in millions)

  Total sales    $511.9     $451.2

$1,542.0 $1,409.1 $5,031.0 $4,511.2

Total sales
   percentage
   change         13.5%       6.5%      9.4%      9.6%     11.5%      7.0%
  Same-store
   sales percentage
   change         11.5%       3.3%      8.1%      4.7%      9.1%      2.5%

  Number of stores
    Full-line        93         91
    Rack and other   56         56
    International
     Faconnable
     boutiques       31         31
    Total           180        178
    Gross square
     footage 19,289,000 19,011,000

   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.

Dollar     % Change   % Change
  Sales         YTD 2003    YTD 2004      Increase   Total Sales Comp Sales
   Reconciliation
   ($M)
  Number of
   Days GAAP        274          273
  GAAP Sales   $4,529.4     $5,031.0       $501.6       11.1%       8.6%
  Less Feb. 1,
   2003 sales    ($18.2)          --
  Reported
   4-5-4 sales $4,511.2     $5,031.0       $519.8       11.5%       9.1%
  4-5-4 Adjusted
   Days             273          273

  FUTURE REPORTING DATES

Nordstrom's financial release calendar for the next several months is provided in the table below.

Third Quarter Earnings   Tues., Nov. 16, 2004
              November Sales Release   Thurs., Dec. 2, 2004
              December Sales Release   Thurs., Jan. 6, 2005
              January Sales Release    Thurs., Feb. 3, 2005

Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers, with 149 US stores located in 27 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 93 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, 206-303-3262

Media Contact:
Deniz Anders, 206-373-3038

SOURCE Nordstrom, Inc.