PLEASANTON, Calif., June 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today reported that sales for the four weeks ended May 31, 2008 increased 14% to $513 million from $450 million for the four weeks ended June 2, 2007. Same store sales for the month increased 7%.

For the 17 weeks ended May 31, 2008, sales totaled $2.070 billion, an 11% increase over the $1.860 billion in sales for the 17 weeks ended June 2, 2007. Comparable store sales for the 17 weeks ended May 31, 2008 increased 4% over the prior year period.

Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased with our May sales results which exceeded our expectations. We believe this solid performance was driven mainly by our ongoing ability to deliver compelling bargains to customers throughout our stores. Business also benefited from favorable weather in many of our key markets. Dresses, Shoes and Accessories were the strongest merchandise categories, while Texas was the best-performing region."

Additional recorded information concerning today's press release and the Company's future outlook can be accessed by calling 706-645-9291, PIN # 32754468, from 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on June 5, 2008 through 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 6, 2008. A transcript of these comments also will be made available on the press release page of the Company's website at http://www.rossstores.com. The Company will report June 2008 sales results on Thursday, July 10th.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release and the recorded comments on our website contain forward-looking statements regarding expected sales and earnings levels and our stock repurchase program that are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results to differ materially from management's current expectations. The words "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "forecast," "projected," "guidance," "looking ahead" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Risk factors for Ross Dress for Less(R) ("Ross") and dd's DISCOUNTS(R) include, without limitation, competitive pressures in the apparel industry; changes in the level of consumer spending on or preferences for apparel or home-related merchandise, including the potential impact from uncertainty in mortgage credit markets and higher gas and commodity prices; changes in geopolitical and general economic conditions; unseasonable weather trends; disruptions in supply chain; lower than planned gross margin, including higher than planned markdowns and higher than expected inventory shortage; greater than planned operating costs; our ability to continue to purchase attractive brand-name merchandise at desirable discounts; our ability to attract and retain personnel with the retail talent necessary to execute our strategies; our ability to effectively operate our various supply chain, core merchandising and other information systems; our ability to improve our merchandising capabilities through the development and implementation of new processes and systems enhancements; achieving and maintaining targeted levels of productivity and efficiency in our distribution centers; potential pressure on freight costs from higher-than-expected fuel surcharges; and obtaining acceptable new store locations. Other risk factors are detailed in our SEC filings including, without limitation, the Form 10-K for fiscal 2007 and Form 8-K's for fiscal 2008. The factors underlying our forecasts are dynamic and subject to change. As a result, our forecasts speak only as of the date they are given and do not necessarily reflect our outlook at any other point in time. We do not undertake to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Ross Stores, Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Pleasanton, California, is the nation's second largest off-price retailer with fiscal 2007 revenues of $6.0 billion. As of May 31, 2008, the Company operated 863 Ross Dress for Less(R) ("Ross") stores and 54 dd's DISCOUNTS(R) locations, compared to 796 Ross and 34 dd's DISCOUNTS locations at the end of the same period last year. Ross offers first-quality, in-season, name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 60 percent off department and specialty store regular prices. dd's DISCOUNTS features a more moderately-priced assortment of first-quality, in-season, name brand apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 70 percent off moderate department and discount store regular prices. Additional information is available at http://www.rossstores.com.

SOURCE Ross Stores, Inc.

CONTACT:
John Call, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, +1-925-965-4315
or Katie Loughnot, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-925-965-4509, katie.loughnot@ros.com
Web site: http://www.rossstores.com