CHICAGO, April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- W.W. Grainger, Inc.(NYSE: GWW), reported
that sales increased 7.3% to $1,057,107,000 for the 1998 first quarter, from
sales of $985,556,000 reported for the 1997 first quarter.  Net earnings
increased 4.7% to $57,172,000 for the 1998 first quarter, compared with net
earnings of $54,609,000, reported for the 1997 first quarter.  On a diluted
basis, earnings per share increased 12.6% to $1.16 for 1998, compared with
$1.03 for 1997.
    W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW), with 1997 sales of $4.1 billion, is the leading
distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies and related
information to the commercial, industrial, contractor, and institutional
markets in North America.  GWW shares are traded on the New York and Chicago
stock exchanges.

               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (Unaudited)
                 (In thousands of dollars except for per share amounts)

                                   Three Months ended March 31
                                  1998                     1997

    Net sales                  $1,057,107                $985,556

    Cost of merchandise sold      671,952                 632,276

        Gross profit              385,155                 353,280

    Warehousing, marketing, and
      administrative expenses     287,564                 261,305

        Operating earnings         97,591                  91,975

    Other income or (deductions)
        Interest income               338                   1,390
        Interest expense           (1,683)                 (1,148)
        Unclassified -- net          (159)                   (437)
                                   (1,504)                   (195)

    Earnings before
     income taxes                  96,087                  91,780

    Income taxes                   38,915                  37,171

        Net earnings              $57,172                 $54,609

    Earnings per share
        -Basic                      $1.18                   $1.05
        -Diluted                    $1.16                   $1.03

    Average number of shares
      outstanding
        -Basic                 48,612,155              52,198,672
        -Diluted               49,490,868              52,938,414