Nordstrom, Inc. net sales declined 8.0% for fiscal December to $1.13 billion from $1.22 billion for the year-ago period. Same-store sales for December decreased 10.6% compared with the same period in fiscal 2007.


Preliminary quarter-to-date sales of $1.83 billion decreased 9.6%compared with sales of $2.03 billion during the same period in fiscal 2007. Quarter-to-date same-store sales decreased 12.7% compared with the same period in fiscal 2007.

Preliminary year-to-date sales of $7.80 billion decreased 6.5% compared with sales of $8.34 billion for the same period in fiscal 2007. Year-to-date same-store sales decreased 8.9% compared with the same period in fiscal 2007.


While sales trends have been challenging, Nordstrom's holiday sales performance exceeded its expectations. The company continues to make the appropriate inventory adjustments and expects inventory levels to be more aligned with current sales trends by the end of the fiscal year. As a result of higher than expected competitive markdown pressure across the industry, the company now expects that its earnings per share for the fourth quarter will not meet its previously announced outlook of 35 cents to 45 cents.

DECEMBER SALES RESULTS

    (unaudited; $ in millions)


                              Total Sales                Same-store Sales(2)

                              ———–                ——————-

                                          Percent

                      Fiscal    Fiscal    Increase/          Full-line   Rack

                       2008      2007(1) (Decrease)   Total    Stores   Stores

                    ——————————-   ————————

    December          $1,125    $1,223      (8.0%)   (10.6%)   (12.8%)  (1.8%)


    Quarter-to-date   $1,833    $2,028      (9.6%)   (12.7%)   (15.3%)  (1.3%)


    Year-to-date      $7,803    $8,342      (6.5%)    (8.9%)   (12.1%)   3.5%


    Number of stores         1/03/09          1/05/08

                             ——-          ——-

      Full-line                  109              101

      Rack and other              60               55

                                 —              —

      Total                      169              156

                                 ===              ===

    Gross square footage  21,876,000       20,502,000


    (1)  Fiscal 2007 year-to-date total sales results include sales from the

         company's domestic Faconnable boutiques through October 31, 2007 and

         sales from the company's international and wholesale Faconnable

         business through August 31, 2007.

    (2)  Same-store sales results exclude sales from Faconnable.