MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Dayton Hudson Corporation (NYSE: DH) today reported that its net retail sales for the five weeks ended Jan. 1, 2000 increased 9.4 percent to $5.743 billion from $5.249 billion a year ago. Comparable-store sales increased 3.6 percent from the same period a year ago. Total company sales were $30.878 billion year to date.

"Target's sales in December were on plan, while sales at the Department Stores and Mervyn's were below plan," said Bob Ulrich, chairman and chief executive officer of Dayton Hudson Corporation.

Percentage Change in Sales

                                December        Year-to-date
    Comparable Stores
        Target                     5.6               6.7
        Mervyn's                  (4.4)             (1.0)
        Department Stores         (0.4)              0.8

        Dayton Hudson              3.6               5.0

    Total
        Target                    13.1              13.5
        Mervyn's                  (4.7)             (1.4)
        Department Stores          0.5               0.8

        Dayton Hudson              9.4              10.2

Dayton Hudson Corporation operates large-store general merchandise formats, including discount stores, moderate-priced promotional and traditional department stores. The company currently operates 1,245 stores in 44 states. This includes 914 Target stores, 267 Mervyn's stores and 64 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.prnewswire.com or http://www.dhc.com

SOURCE Dayton Hudson Corporation

CONTACT: Media, Susan Eich, 612-304-0700, or Investors, Susan Kahn, 612-370-6735, both of Dayton Hudson Corporation/