Saks Incorporated announced that comparable store sales for the four weeks ended August 30, 2003 compared to the four weeks ended August 31, 2002 increased 0.8% on a total company basis. By segment, comparable store sales increased 0.7% for SDSG and increased 0.9% for SFAE for the month. Sales below are in millions and represent sales from owned departments only.

For the four weeks ended August 30, 2003 compared to the four weeks ended August 31, 2002, owned sales were:

                                                 Total     Comparable
                 This Year      Last Year      Increase      Increase
                 ---------      ---------     ----------   ----------
SDSG             $   243.4      $  237.2          2.6%          0.7%
SFAE                 158.2         157.2          0.6%          0.9%
                 ---------      ---------     ----------   ----------
Total            $   401.6      $  394.4          1.8%          0.8%

On a year-to-date basis, for the seven months ended August 30, 2003 compared to the seven months ended August 31, 2002, owned sales were:

                                                 Total     Comparable
                 This Year      Last Year     (Decrease)   (Decrease)
                 ---------      ---------     ----------   ----------
SDSG              $1,785.1      $1,802.4         (1.0%)        (1.9%)
SFAE               1,215.0       1,236.8         (1.8%)        (1.5%)
                 ---------      ---------     ----------   ----------
Total             $3,000.1      $3,039.2         (1.3%)        (1.7%)

Merchandise categories with the best sales performances for SDSG in August were home, women's special size and better apparel, shoes, men's furnishings, and cosmetics. Categories with softer sales performances for SDSG in August were men's sportswear, junior's apparel, and accessories. Categories with the best sales performances for SFAE in August were women's European designer apparel, women's contemporary sportswear, men's sportswear and dress furnishings, fine jewelry, shoes, handbags, and cosmetics. Categories and businesses with the softest performances for SFAE in August were American designer collections, women's designer sportswear, outerwear, children's apparel, and Off 5th.