The May Department Stores Company reported preliminary net sales of $1.40 billion for the five-week period ended July 2, 2005, a 20.6% increase from $1.16 billion in last year's period. Copmarable store sales increased 0.6%.
Net sales for the first five months of fiscal 2005 were $5.89 billion, a 15.4% increase compared with $5.10 billion during the first five months of fiscal 2004.


    Net sales were as follows:

                            Fiscal       Fiscal      Percent   Store-for-Store
    (dollars in millions)     2005         2004     Increase       Inc./(Dec.)

    June                 $ 1,398.8    $ 1,160.0        20.6%          0.6%

    Year-to-date           5,888.5      5,100.6        15.4          (3.3)

Net sales include merchandise sales and lease department income. Store-for-store sales compare sales of stores open during both years beginning the first day a new store has prior-year sales and exclude sales of stores closed during both years.

During June, May's Bridal Group opened one David's Bridal store in Nebraska.

The May Department Stores Company currently operates 487 department stores under the names of Famous-Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's, Kaufmann's, Lord & Taylor, L.S. Ayres, Marshall Field's, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May, Strawbridge's, and The Jones Store, as well as 242 David's Bridal stores, 452 After Hours Formalwear stores, and 11 Priscilla of Boston stores in its Bridal Group. May operates in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.