Nordstrom reported preliminary sales of $402.6 million for the four-week period ending August 30, 2003, an increase of 11.3% compared to sales of $361.7 million for the four-week period ending August 31, 2002. Same-store sales increased 3.2%.

August same-store sales in full-line stores increased in the Northwest, Southwest and Central States geographic regions. By merchandise division, same-store sales increased in Shoes, Cosmetics, Accessories, Men's Wear, Women's Active Wear, Junior Women's, Intimate Apparel, and Women's Designer Apparel.

Preliminary year-to-date sales of $3.5 billion increased 6.6% compared to year-to-date 2002 sales of $3.3 billion. Year-to-date same-store sales increased 1.8%.

GAAP SALES PERFORMANCE

The Company converted to a 4-5-4 Retail Calendar at the beginning of 2003. This change in the fiscal calendar has resulted in differences in the number of days included in the current period versus the same period in the prior year. Sales performance numbers included in this sales release have been calculated on a comparative 4-5-4 basis. The Company believes that adjusting for these differences provides a more comparable basis (4-5-4 vs. 4-5-4) from which to evaluate sales performance. The following reconciliation bridges 2002 GAAP sales to the 4-5-4 comparable sales.

                                                 Dollar    % Change  % Change
                              August    August   Increase/    Total     Comp
    Sales Reconciliation($M)   2003      2002   (Decrease)    Sales    Sales
      Number of Days GAAP        28        31
      GAAP Sales             $402.6    $434.7      ($32.1)   (7.4%)    (14.4%)
      Less August 1-3,
       2002 sales                --    ($73.0)
      Reported 4-5-4 sales   $402.6    $361.7       $40.9     11.3%      3.2%
      4-5-4 Adjusted Days        28        28
                                                           % Change  % Change
                                YTD       YTD      Dollar     Total     Comp
    Sales Reconciliation ($M)   2003      2002    Increase    Sales    Sales
      Number of Days GAAP        211       212
      GAAP Sales            $3,541.3  $3,336.0     $205.3      6.2%      0.8%
      Less Feb. 1, 2003       ($18.2)       --
      Less Feb. 1-2,
       2002 sales                 --   ($30.4)
      Reported 4-5-4 sales  $3,523.1  $3,305.6     $217.5      6.6%      1.8%
      4-5-4 Adjusted Days       210        210

FUTURE REPORTING DATES

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

          September Sales Release       Thurs., October 9, 2003
          October Sales Release         Thurs., November 6, 2003
          Third Quarter Earnings        Thurs., November 20, 2003
          November Sales Release        Thurs., December 4, 2003

SALES SUMMARY 

                                        Aug.       Aug.       YTD       YTD

(unaudited; $ in millions)           2003       2002      2003      2002
    Total sales                        $402.6     $361.7  $3,523.1  $3,305.6
    Total sales percentage change       11.3%       3.9%      6.6%      4.8%
    Same-store sales percentage change   3.2%       0.2%      1.8%      0.3%

    Number of stores (as of August 30, 2003)
       Full-line                           90        83
       Rack and other                      56        54
       International Faconnable boutiques  31        23
       Total                              177       160

    Gross square footage
     (as of August 30, 2003)       18,847,000 17,488,000