Grainger Reports November 2008 Sales Results

CHICAGO, Dec. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Grainger (NYSE: GWW) today
reported sales results for the month of November 2008. Daily sales declined 2
percent versus November 2007. Sales benefited by approximately 1 percentage
point due to Lab Safety’s acquisition of Highsmith. Sales were negatively
affected by approximately 3 percentage points due to foreign exchange. There
were two fewer selling days in November 2008 (19) versus November 2007 (21).
The 2008 fourth quarter will have 64 selling days, the same as the 2007 fourth
quarter.

                       November Daily Sales by Segment
                                 2008 v. 2007

    Grainger Branch-based                         -2%
    Acklands - Grainger (Canada)                  -6% *
    Lab Safety Supply                             -2%

    *(+18% in Local Currency)

To access a recorded message with additional detail about November sales,
please visit http://www.grainger.com/investor.

W.W. Grainger, Inc. with 2007 sales of $6.4 billion is the leading broad
line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving businesses and
institutions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Panama. Through a
highly integrated network including more than 600 branches, 18 distribution
centers and multiple Web sites, Grainger’s employees help customers get the
job done.

SOURCE W.W. Grainger, Inc.