MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Dayton Hudson Corporation (NYSE: DH) today reported that its net retail sales for the five weeks ended Oct. 2, 1999 increased 11.9 percent to $2.804 billion from $2.506 billion a year ago. Comparable-store sales increased 6.9 percent from the same period a year ago. Total company sales were $19.829 billion year to date.

"Target's sales in September were well above plan, Mervyn's sales were below plan and the Department Stores met expectations," said Bob Ulrich, chairman and chief executive officer of Dayton Hudson Corporation.

Percentage Change in Sales

                                         September         Year-to-date
    Comparable Stores
        Target                              8.6                 7.4
        Mervyn's                            0.3                 2.2
        Department Stores                   2.8                 2.3

        Dayton Hudson                       6.9                 6.2

    Total
        Target                             15.2                13.9
        Mervyn's                           (0.3)                1.8
        Department Stores                   3.3                 1.9

        Dayton Hudson                      11.9                11.0

Dayton Hudson Corporation operates large-store general merchandise formats, including discount stores, moderate-priced promotional and traditional department stores. The company currently operates 1,212 stores in 44 states. This includes 881 Target stores, 267 Mervyn's stores and 64 Department Stores.