News Release Grainger Reports August 2009 Sales Results

CHICAGO, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grainger (NYSE: GWW) today reported sales results for the month of August 2009. Daily sales declined 13 percent versus August 2008, primarily the result of weak demand across all customer end-markets and geographies. Foreign exchange negatively affected sales by approximately 1 percentage point. There were the same number of selling days in August 2009 and August 2008 (21). The 2009 third quarter will have the same number of selling days (64) as the 2008 third quarter.

                         August Daily Sales by Segment                                  

                                2009 v. 2008                 

               United States                        -14%
                
               Canada                               - 8% *                
               Other Businesses                     +16%                
               *(-5% in local currency)