Family Dollar Reports Sales for January 2004

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Family Dollar Reports Sales for January 2004
    MATTHEWS, N.C., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Family Dollar Stores,
Inc. (NYSE: FDO), a discount store chain operating 5,142 stores in 43 states,
reported sales for the four week period ended January 31, 2004, of
approximately $339.8 million, or 12.5% above sales of $302.1 million for the
similar period in the prior fiscal year.  Sales in existing stores for the
four week period ended January 31, 2004, increased approximately 3.0% above
existing store sales for the similar period in the prior fiscal year,
including an increase of approximately 4.7% in sales of hardlines and a
decrease of approximately 2.7% in sales of softlines.
    Sales in the last week of the four week period ended January 31, 2004,
were adversely impacted by severe winter weather.  Existing store sales in
that last week decreased approximately 0.2%.  In the first three weeks of the
four week period ended January 31, 2004, existing store sales increased
approximately 4.3%.
    For the nine week period ended January 31, 2004, sales were approximately
$998.5 million, or 10.8% above sales of $901.4 million for the similar period
in the prior fiscal year.  Sales in existing stores for the nine week period
ended January 31, 2004, increased approximately 1.5% above existing store
sales for the similar period in the prior fiscal year, including an increase
of approximately 2.2% in sales of hardlines and a decrease of approximately
1.4% in sales of softlines.
    For the twenty-two week period ended January 31, 2004, sales were
approximately $2,243.2 million, or 11.6% above sales of $2,010.0 million for
the similar period in the prior fiscal year.  Sales in existing stores for the
twenty-two week period ended January 31, 2004, increased approximately 2.1%
above existing store sales for the similar period in the prior fiscal year.
Sales of hardlines increased approximately 2.7% and sales of softlines were at
the same level.
    As previously announced, the Company's plan is for sales in existing
stores to increase in the 3% to 5% range in the February 2004 reporting
period.

    Certain statements contained in this press release which are not
historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements address the Company's plans and activities or
events which the Company expects will or may occur in the future.  A number of
important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in any forward-looking statements.  Such factors include, but are
not limited to, competitive factors and pricing pressures, general economic
conditions, the impact of acts of war or terrorism, changes in consumer demand
and product mix, unusual weather that may temporarily impact sales, inflation,
merchandise supply constraints, general transportation delays or
interruptions, dependence on imports, changes in currency exchange rates,
trade restrictions, tariffs, quotas, and freight rates, availability of real
estate, costs and delays associated with building, opening and operating new
distribution facilities and stores, costs and potential problems associated
with the implementation of new systems and technology, including supply chain
systems and electronic commerce, changes in energy prices and the impact on
consumer spending and the Company's costs, legal proceedings and claims,
changes in health care and other insurance costs, and the effects of
legislation on wage levels and entitlement programs.  Consequently, all of the
forward-looking statements made are qualified by these and other factors,
risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
release. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its
forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear
that projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be
realized.
SOURCE Family Dollar Stores, Inc.
http://www.familydollar.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/300875.html
CONTACT:
George R. Mahoney, Jr., Executive Vice
President of Family Dollar Stores, Inc., +1-704-814-3252