Grainger Reports April 2009 Sales Results

CHICAGO, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Grainger (NYSE: GWW) today reported sales results for the month of April 2009. Daily sales declined 15 percent versus April 2008, primarily the result of weak demand across all customer end-markets and geographies. Sales were negatively affected by approximately 2 percentage points due to foreign exchange. There were 22 selling days in both April 2009 and April 2008. The 2009 second quarter will have the same number of selling days (64) as the 2008 second quarter.

                       April Daily Sales by Segment
                               2009 v. 2008

    United States                                         -14%
    Canada                                                -26% *
    Other Businesses                                      -16%

    * (-11% in local currency)

Please visit www.grainger.com/investor to access a recorded message with additional detail about April sales.

W.W. Grainger, Inc. with 2008 sales of $6.9 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.