<page> Exhibit 99.1
For Immediate Release
- ---------------------
October 6, 2005
NORDSTROM SEPTEMBER SAME-STORE SALES INCREASE 4.1 PERCENT
SEATTLE - October 6, 2005 - Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported
preliminary sales of $636.7 million for the five-week period ending October 1,
2005, an increase of 6.4 percent compared to sales of $598.4 million for the
five-week period ending October 2, 2004. Same-store sales increased 4.1
percent (1).
Preliminary quarter-to-date sales of $1.1 billion increased 7.7 percent
compared to sales of $1.0 billion in 2004. Quarter-to-date same-store sales
increased 5.7 percent.
Preliminary year-to-date sales of $4.9 billion increased 7.8 percent
compared to sales of $4.5 billion in 2004. Year-to-date same-store sales
increased 6.1 percent.
During the month of September, Nordstrom opened two new stores; The Shops
at La Cantera in San Antonio, Texas on September 16th and at The Irvine
Spectrum in Irvine, Calif. on September 30th. The final opening of the year
will be on November 11th in Dallas, Texas at NorthPark Center.
SALES RECORDING
To hear Nordstrom's prerecorded September sales message, please dial (402)
220-6036. This recording will be available for one week.
<table>
<caption>
SALES SUMMARY Total Sales Same-store Sales (1)
----------- ----------------
(unaudited; Fiscal Fiscal Percent Total Full-Line Rack
$ in millions) 2005 2004 Increase Retail Stores Stores
--------- --------- -------- ------ --------- ------
<s> <c> <c> <c> <c> <c> <c>
September $636.7 $598.4 6.4% 4.1% 3.3% 10.6%
Quarter-to-date $1,109.8 $1,030.2 7.7% 5.7% 5.4% 10.8%
Year-to-date $4,870.7 $4,519.1 7.8% 6.1% 5.0% 15.3%
Number of stores
Full-line 97 93
Rack and other 57 56
International
Faconnable
boutiques 32 31
--- ---
Total 186 180
Gross square
footage 19,858,000 19,289,000
FUTURE REPORTING DATES
Nordstrom's financial release calendar for the next several months is currently
planned as follows:
October Sales Release Thurs., Nov. 3, 2005
Third Quarter Earnings Thurs., Nov. 17, 2005
November Sales Release Thurs., Dec. 1, 2005
December Sales Release Thurs., Jan. 5, 2005
Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers,
with 154 US stores located in 27 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in
Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 97 full-line stores, 49 Nordstrom Racks, five
Faconnable boutiques, one free-standing shoe store, and two clearance stores.
Nordstrom also operates 32 international Faconnable boutiques in Europe.
Additionally, Nordstrom serves customers through its online presence at
http://www.nordstrom.com and through its catalogs. Nordstrom, Inc. is publicly
traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.
Investor Contact: Media Contact:
Stephanie Allen, 206-303-3262 Brooke White, 206-373-3030
<page>
(1) Effective February 2005, Nordstrom Direct sales, which include catalog and
Internet, are included in Total Retail same-store sales. To serve as a basis
for comparison, as this was not the case last year, a presentation of 2004
monthly, quarterly and full-year same-store sales that includes Nordstrom
Direct is available on the Investor Relations homepage of our website under
Recent Reports.