MINNEAPOLIS, April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Dayton Hudson Corporation (NYSE: DH) today reported that its net retail sales for the five weeks ended April 3, 1999 increased 17.5 percent to $2.897 billion from $2.466 billion a year ago. Comparable-store sales increased 12.9 percent from the same period a year ago. Total company sales were $4.905 billion year to date.

"Sales in March were above plan at Target and the Department Stores, and slightly below plan at Mervyn's," said Bob Ulrich, chairman and chief executive officer of Dayton Hudson Corporation. "Due to the shift in Easter, these results should be viewed in conjunction with our April sales performance."

                          Percentage Change in Sales

                                March           Year-to-date
    Comparable Stores
         Target                 14.9                12.7
         Marvyn's                7.3                 5.9
         Department Stores       6.9                 5.6

         Dayton Hudson          12.9                11.O

    Total
         Target                 21.1                19.3
         Mervyn's                6.9                 5.6
         Department Stores       6.3                 4.9

         Dayton Hudson          17.5                15.8

Dayton Hudson Corporation operates large-store general merchandise formats, including discount stores, moderate-priced promotional and traditional department stores. The company currently operates 1,190 stores in 41 states. This includes 859 Target stores, 268 Mervyn's stores and 63 Department Stores.

Dayton Hudson news releases are available through Company News on Call by fax at 800-758-5804 extension 342677 (DHCorp) or at http://www.pmewswire.com or http://www.dhc.com