MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Target Corporation today reported that its net retail sales for the four weeks ended November 29, 2003 increased 12.1 percent to $4.414 billion from $3.937 billion for the four-week period ended November 30, 2002. Comparable-store sales increased 6.2 percent from fiscal November 2002.

"Sales at Target Corporation were above plan in November, reflecting stronger-than-expected sales growth at Target Stores," said Bob Ulrich, chairman and chief executive officer of Target Corporation. "While we are pleased with these early holiday results, December is typically a much more significant contributor to our fourth quarter financial performance."

                          Sales     Total Sales    Comparable Stores % Change
                        (millions)   % Change        This Year      Last Year

    November
    Target                $3,781       14.1             7.4            (5.7)
    Mervyn's                 339       (0.3)           (1.5)          (12.5)
    Marshall Field's         218       (1.4)           (0.1)          (10.5)
    Other                     76       20.5              na              na
    Total                  4,414       12.1             6.2            (6.7)

    Year-to-date
    Target               $30,886       11.6             4.0             2.7
    Mervyn's               2,669       (7.4)           (7.9)           (4.6)
    Marshall Field's       1,917       (4.8)           (3.7)           (3.6)
    Other                    510       35.9              na              na
    Total                 35,982        9.2             2.4             1.5

Target Corporation operates large-store general merchandise formats, including discount stores, moderate-priced promotional and traditional department stores, as well as a direct mail and on-line business called target.direct. At month-end, the company operated 1,556 stores in 47 states. This included 1,227 Target stores, 267 Mervyn's stores and 62 Marshall Field's stores.

Comments regarding the company's sales results are available in a pre- recorded telephone message that may be accessed by calling 612-761-6500. Target Corporation news releases are available at www.target.com or www.prnewswire.com .

SOURCE Target Corporation
-0- 12/04/2003
/CONTACT: investor, Susan Kahn, +1-612-761-6735, or financial media,
Cathy Wright, +1-312-781-2979/
/Web site: http://www.target.com /
(TGT)