MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Target Corporation today reported that its net retail sales from continuing operations (principally Target Stores) for the four weeks ended August 28, 2004 increased 8.4 percent to $3.442 billion from $3.175 billion for the four-week period ended August 30, 2003. On this same basis, comparable-store sales increased 1.8 percent from fiscal August 2003.

"Sales at Target Stores were on plan for the month of August," said Bob Ulrich, chairman and chief executive officer of Target Corporation.

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

    August                  $3,442          8.4          1.8          8.3

    Year-to-date           $23,628         11.7          5.0          2.8

Following the close of the Mervyn's transaction, Target Corporation will continue to operate Target Stores, a chain of large, general merchandise discount stores, as well as an on-line business called Target.com. At month- end, this included 1,272 Target stores in 47 states.

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 http://www.target.com or http://www.prnewswire.com .

SOURCE Target Corporation
-0- 09/02/2004
/CONTACT: Investors, Susan Kahn, +1-612-761-6735, or Financial Media,
Cathy Wright, +1-847-615-1538, both of Target Corporation/
/Web site: http://www.target.com /
(TGT)