SEATTLE, Wash. - June 6, 2001 SEATTLE, Wash. - June 6, 2001 - Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported preliminary sales of $437.9 million for the month of May 2001, an increase of 3.6 percent compared to sales of $422.6 million for the month of May 2000. Same-store sales declined 2.2 percent.

Preliminary year-to-date sales of $1.7 billion increased 5.1 percent compared to 2000 year-to-date sales of $1.6 billion. Year-to-date same-store sales declined 3.3 percent.

CALENDAR-ADJUSTED RESULTS
After adjusting for the impact of differences in the specific days of the week that comprised May 2001 compared to May 2000, total sales for May 2001 increased approximately 3.5 percent, and same-store sales declined approximately 2.4 percent. Adjusted same-store sales in full-line stores decreased in all geographic regions, but increased in the Women's, Junior Women's and Cosmetics merchandise categories.

FUTURE REPORTING DATES
Nordstrom’s financial release calendar for the remainder of fiscal 2001 is as follows (after market close):

Celebrating 100 years of service, Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers, with 122 US stores located in 24 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 77 full-line stores, 39 Nordstrom Racks, three Façonnable boutiques, two free-standing shoe stores, and one clearance store. Nordstrom also operates 20 international Façonnable boutiques, primarily in Europe. Additionally, Nordstrom serves customers through its online presence at http://www.nordstrom.com and through its direct mail catalogs.

*May 2001 included one more Thursday and one less Monday compared to May 2000.

**In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 0010, effective Nov. 1, 2000, the company is reclassifying shipping income as sales. Comparison data in 2000 also have been reclassified. Previously these amounts were classified within Selling, General & Administrative expenses. These amounts have not materially impacted reported sales.

Certain statements in this news release contain "forward-looking" information (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involves risks and uncertainties, including anticipated store openings and distribution channels, planned capital expenditures, and trends in company operations. Actual future results and trends may differ materially depending upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the company's ability to source and manage appropriate inventory, predict fashion trends and consumer apparel buying patterns, and control costs and expenses; weather conditions; hazards of nature such as earthquakes and floods; trends in personal bankruptcies and bad debt write-offs; employee relations; the company's ability to continue its expansion plans; and the impact of economic and competitive market forces. The company's SEC reports may contain other information on these and other factors which could affect our financial results and cause actual results to differ from any forward-looking information we may provide.