SEATTLE, Wash. - August 14, 2002 - Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported second quarter net earnings of $52.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, excluding non-recurring items. For the second quarter of 2001, net earnings and earnings per share were $38.7 million and $0.29, respectively.

Second quarter 2002 earnings were reduced $0.05 per share by non-recurring charges related to the previously announced purchase of the minority interest in Nordstrom Direct (formerly Nordstrom.com). The company also expects to record a non-recurring charge of up to $17 million (pre-tax) related to its existing investment in a supply chain tool at its product development division. The actual amount is dependent on the evaluation of several alternative supply chain tool proposals, which are currently being considered. The actual charge will be included in the company's form 10Q, which will be filed not later than September 16, 2002. This charge is unrelated to the company's implementation of a perpetual inventory system.

Before the effects of the non-recurring charges, second quarter 2002 earnings per share increased 34.0 percent from the same quarter in 2001. The earnings improvement resulted largely from strong sales combined with gross profit and selling, general and administrative expense improvements.

Net sales for the second quarter of 2002 increased 7.0 percent, to $1.66 billion, compared to sales of $1.55 billion in the same period in 2001. On a calendar basis, sales in comparable stores increased 2.1 percent.

"Throughout this year our top-line trends have steadily improved," commented President Blake Nordstrom. "We are pleased with the three consecutive months of positive comparable-store sales achieved in the second quarter, particularly in light of the challenging retail environment. Our focus remains on driving top-line growth by providing a quality customer experience, while continuing to gain operating efficiencies."

Year-to-date net earnings and earnings per share for the six-month period ended July 31, 2002, were $82.8 million and $0.61 respectively, excluding non-recurring and impairment charges, compared to net earnings and earnings per share of $63.5 million and $0.47 for the same period in 2001. Year-to-date net sales of $2.90 billion increased 5.0 percent from the same period in 2001. On a calendar basis, year-to-date same store sales increased 0.5 percent.

Nordstrom opened one Rack store in Ontario, Calif. during the quarter. Throughout the remainder of the year ending January 31, 2003, Nordstrom expects to open five full-line stores, in Dulles, Va.; St. Louis, Mo.; Coral Gables, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.; and Las Vegas, Nev. One additional Rack store is also planned. For the entire year, gross square footage is expected to increase approximately 8.0 percent, from 17,048,000 to 18,360,000.

For the third quarter of 2002, the Company anticipates diluted earnings per share in the range of $0.16 to $0.20, versus $0.08 in the prior year. As a percent to sales, this reflects improving merchandise margins, flat selling, general and administrative expenses and low single-digit comparable-store sales growth. For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2003, the Company is raising its prior earnings per share guidance of $1.18-$1.22 to $1.20-$1.24, excluding non-recurring and impairment charges.

Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers, with 136 US stores located in 26 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, Nordstrom today operates 83 full-line stores, 47 Nordstrom Racks, four U.S. Façonnable boutiques, one freestanding shoe store, and one clearance store. Nordstrom also operates 23 international Façonnable boutiques, primarily in Europe. Additionally, Nordstrom Direct serves customers through its online presence at http://www.nordstrom.com and through its direct mail catalogs.

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

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 earnings, store openings and distribution channels, planned capital expenditures, and trends in company operations. Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or current expectations depending upon factors including, but not limited to, the company's ability to predict fashion trends, consumer apparel buying patterns, the company's ability to control costs, 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, including the impact of the recent terrorist activity on the company, its customers and the industry.
Our SEC reports may contain other information on these and other factors that could affect our financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking information we may provide.