SEATTLE, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported preliminary sales of $529 million for the four-week period ended November 1, 2008, a decrease of 15.5 percent compared with sales of $626 million for the four-week period ended November 3, 2007. October same-store sales decreased 15.7 percent, compared with the same period in 2007.

Preliminary third quarter sales of $1.80 billion decreased 8.4 percent compared with sales of $1.97 billion during the same period in 2007. Third quarter same-store sales decreased 11.1 percent, compared with the same period in 2007.

Preliminary year-to-date sales of $5.97 billion decreased 5.4 percent compared with sales of $6.31 billion for the same period in 2007. Year-to-date same-store sales decreased 7.7 percent, compared with the same period in 2007.

The economic and competitive retail environment remained challenging during the month of October and the company now expects that earnings for the third quarter will be slightly below its previously announced earnings per share outlook of $0.32 to $0.37.

Sales Recording

To hear Nordstrom's pre-recorded October sales message, please dial 800-891-8250 or 402-220-6036. This recording will be available for one week.

    OCTOBER 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
                       -----------------------------   -----------------------
    October               $529       $626   (15.5%)   (15.7%)   (20.4%)   0.7%
    Third Quarter       $1,805     $1,970    (8.4%)   (11.1%)   (15.6%)   3.6%
    Year-to-date        $5,971     $6,314    (5.4%)    (7.7%)   (11.0%)   4.8%
    Number of stores
     as of November 1,
     2008
      Full-line            108        101
      Rack and other        58         56
                       -------    -------
      Total                166        157
                       =======    =======
    Gross square
     footage        21,717,000 20,542,000


    (1)  Total sales results for fiscal 2007 include sales from the company's
         domestic Faconnable boutiques through October 31, 2007.