Retailer Saks Incorporated announced that for the four weeks ended April 30, 2005 compared to the four weeks ended May 1, 2004, total sales decreased 1.2% and comparable store sales increased 0.3% on a total company basis. By segment, comparable store sales decreased 5.4% for SDSG and increased 7.1% for SFAE for the month. Sales below are in millions and represent sales from owned departments only.
For the four weeks ended April 30, 2005 compared to the four weeks ended May 1, 2004, owned sales were:


                                              Total        Comparable
                                            Increase        Increase
               This Year    Last Year      (Decrease)      (Decrease)
               ---------    ---------      ----------      ----------
SDSG           $   265.8    $   284.0         (6.4%)          (5.4%)
SFAE               250.5        238.4          5.1%            7.1%
               ---------    ---------      ----------      ----------
Total          $   516.3    $   522.4         (1.2%)           0.3%

For SFAE, April 2005 included an electronic gift card promotional event that did not take place in April 2004.

Merchandise categories with the best sales performances for SDSG in April were women's moderate and large size sportswear, accessories, and cosmetics. Categories with the softest sales performances for SDSG in April were women's dresses, home, and men's furnishings and sportswear. Categories with the best sales performances for SFAE in April were women's and men's contemporary apparel, women's “Gold Range” apparel, jewelry, accessories, and bridal. Categories with the softest performances for SFAE in April were private brand, women's bridge apparel, outerwear, and gifts.

For the first quarter ended April 30, 2005 compared to the quarter ended May 1, 2004, owned sales were:

                                              Total        Comparable
                                            Increase        Increase
               This Year    Last Year      (Decrease)      (Decrease)
               ---------    ---------      ----------      ----------
SDSG           $   840.4    $   853.7         (1.6%)          (0.9%)
SFAE               699.2        674.6          3.6%            5.5%
               ---------    ---------      ----------      ----------
Total          $ 1,539.6    $ 1,528.3          0.7%            1.9%

Saks Incorporated operates Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises (SFAE), which consists of 57 Saks Fifth Avenue stores, 52 Saks Off 5th stores, and saks.com. The company also operates its Saks Department Store Group (SDSG) with 232 department stores under the names of Parisian, Proffitt's, McRae's, Younkers, Herberger's, Carson Pirie Scott, Bergner's, and Boston Store and 43 Club Libby Lu specialty stores. On April 29, 2005, the company announced that it had entered into an agreement to sell 22 Proffitt's stores and 25 McRae's stores to Belk, Inc. The sale is subject to various closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of all waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The company expects to complete the sale in the second quarter of 2005.