The TJX Companies, Inc. Reports December 2003 Sales

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2004--The TJX Companies, Inc. today reported December 2003 sales results. Sales for the five-week period ended January 3, 2004, were $1,806 million, up 13% over $1,602 million achieved during the five-week period ended January 4, 2003. For the 48 weeks ended January 3, 2004, sales reached $12,384 million, an increase of 9% over last year's $11,314 million. Consolidated comparable store sales for the five-week period ended January 3, 2004, were up 4% over last year. For the 48-week, year-to-date period, consolidated comparable store sales increased 1% over last year.

Edmond English, President and Chief Executive Officer of The TJX Companies, Inc., stated, "We are pleased that our December sales came in at the upper end of our revised range. As we expected, the holiday selling season came late this year and our sales surged towards the end of the month. Our strategy of flowing fresh merchandise to our stores right up until the holidays served us extremely well. We ended December with our inventories in excellent shape and are very pleased with the strength of our merchandise margins."

The TJX Companies, Inc. is the leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the U.S. and worldwide. The Company operates 749 T.J. Maxx, 674 Marshalls, 182 HomeGoods, 99 A.J. Wright, and 31 Bob's stores in the United States. In Canada, the Company operates 160 Winners and 25 HomeSense stores, and in Europe, 147 T.K. Maxx stores. TJX's press releases and financial information are also available on the Internet at www.tjx.com.

A recorded message with more detailed information regarding TJX's December sales results, operations and business trends is available by calling [phone] or via the Internet at www.tjx.com. This recording will remain available via the phone and Internet through Thursday, January 15, 2004. The Company expects to release its January 2004 sales on Thursday, February 5, 2004, at approximately 8:15 a.m. EST. Concurrent with that press release, a recorded message with more detailed information regarding TJX's January sales results, operations and business trends will be available via the phone and Internet through Thursday, February 12, 2004.