May Department Stores reported preliminary net sales of $1.01 billion for the four-week period ended Feb. 26, 2005, a 14.5% increase from $880 million in the similar period last year. Store-for-store sales decreased 4.2%. February store-for-store sales decreased 4.1%, excluding the remaining seven stores that May previously announced it will divest.

    Net sales were as follows:

Fiscal Fiscal Percent Store-for-Store Decrease (dollars in millions) 2005 2004 Increase Actual Adjusted *

February $1,007.8 $880.4 14.5% (4.2)% (4.1)%

* Excludes the remaining seven stores that May previously announced it will divest.