Saks April Comps Increase 2.2%; Sales Decreased 40.1%

Retailer Saks Incorporated saw total company comparable store sales increase 2.2% and total sales decreased 40.1% for the month of April. By segment, comparable store sales increased 8.6% for SDSG and increased 0.8% for SFAE for the month. Sales below are in millions and represent sales from owned departments only.

For the four weeks ended April 29, 2006 compared to the four weeks ended April 30, 2005, owned sales were:

                                                            Comparable

                                                  Total      Increase

                         This Year   Last Year  (Decrease)  (Decrease)

                         ---------   ---------  ----------  ----------

SDSG                       $ 63.8     $ 265.8     (76.0%)        8.6%

SFAE                        245.6       250.5      (2.0%)        0.8%

                         --------    --------    --------     --------

Total                     $ 309.4     $ 516.3     (40.1%)        2.2%

Certain promotional events were shifted at both SDSG's Parisian business and SFAE to correspond to a later Easter (occurring on April 16th this year and on March 27th last year), which were expected to enhance April 2006 comparable store sales. As anticipated, April comparable store sales at Parisian were positively affected by the event shift. However, the event shift did not positively impact SFAE's April comparable store sales as expected. 

Merchandise categories with the best sales performances for SDSG in April were dresses, intimate apparel, women's moderate sportswear, junior's apparel, and accessories. Categories with the softest sales performances for SDSG in April were outerwear, home, and men's furnishings. Categories with the best sales performances for SFAE in April were women's and men's contemporary apparel, women's designer apparel, men's accessories, handbags, and eveningwear. Categories with the softest performances for SFAE in April were men's sportswear, shoes, jewelry, and intimate apparel. 
For the first quarter ended April 29, 2006 compared to the quarter ended April 30, 2005, owned sales were: 
                                                  Total    Comparable

                         This Year   Last Year  (Decrease) (Decrease)

                         ---------   ---------  ----------  ----------

SDSG                      $ 365.6     $ 840.4     (56.5%)      (1.5%)
SFAE                        665.8       699.2      (4.8%)      (2.2%)

                         --------    --------    --------     --------

Total                    $1,031.4    $1,539.6     (33.0%)      (1.9%)
The Company completed the sale of its SDSG Proffitt's/McRae's business to Belk, Inc. effective Midnight on July 2, 2005 and the sale of SDSG's NDSG business to The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. effective Midnight on March 4, 2006. Total and comparable store sales above reflect revenues of Proffitt's/McRae's and NDSG through those dates. Effective March 5, 2006, SDSG consists of Parisian and Club Libby Lu.