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 and China. 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.

http://www.grainger.com/

              Grainger Branch-based                +6 %
              Acklands - Grainger (Canada)        +12 %
              Lab Safety Supply       

Grainger Reports July 2008 Sales Results 
CHICAGO, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grainger (NYSE: GWW) today reported sales results for the month of July 2008. Daily sales grew 11 percent versus July 2007 including a 1 percentage point benefit from foreign currency primarily due to the strength of the Canadian dollar. Sales were negatively affected by approximately 1 percentage point due to softer sales of seasonal products. Sales were positively affected by approximately 1 percentage point due to Lab Safety Supply's acquisition of Highsmith, Inc., on July 10th. There was one more selling day in July 2008 (22) versus July 2007 (21). The 2008 third quarter will have 64 selling days versus 63 in the 2007 third quarter
 
 

Grainger Reports Earnings Per Share of $1.17 for the 2007 First Quarter 
Company adjusts 2007 EPS forecast to reflect strong first quarter 
Highlights 

Sales up 9 percent 
Net earnings up 18 percent 
EPS up 26 percent 
Repurchased 1.2 million shares 
Generated pretax ROIC of 28.8 percent*
Visit http://www.grainger.com/investor to access a Podcast describing Grainger's performance in more detail. 

CHICAGO, April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grainger (NYSE: GWW) today reported record first quarter sales and earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. Sales of $1.5 billion were up 9 percent versus first quarter 2006. Net earnings for the quarter increased 18 percent to $102 million as compared to $86 million in 2006. Earnings per share grew 26 percent to $1.17, a quarterly record, as compared with $0.93 for the 2006 first quarter.

"We're executing well on our strategy and our investments in growth are paying off," said Grainger's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard L. Keyser. "With this strong start to the year, we are raising the bottom end of our previous guidance by 10 cents. We now expect 2007 earnings per share to be in the range of $4.70 to $4.85."

Keyser added, "We continue to gain share in this fragmented industry by serving our existing customers well and leveraging our supply chain, branch network and sales resources to find and serve new customers. We expect to earn more business by helping customers get the job done."

Daily sales increased 8 percent in January, 10 percent in February and 9 percent in March. The company's sales were positively affected by 1 percentage point due to strong sales of seasonal products and negatively affected by 1 percentage point as the company continues to unwind low margin contracts for automotive and integrated supply customers.
Grainger Branch-based segment

Sales in this segment, which includes branch-based businesses in the United States, Mexico and China, increased 10 percent in the 2007 first quarter. Daily sales in this segment grew by 9 percent in January, 11 percent in February and 11 percent in March.

For the quarter, sales growth in the segment was reduced by approximately 2 percentage points due to the continued wind-down of low margin contracts with integrated-supply and automotive customers. As the remaining contracts are exited throughout the year, the company expects the wind-down to negatively affect sales by 1 percentage point for the full year 2007.

During the quarter, the company opened two new full service branches in the United States, bringing the total number of branches in the segment to 440:

                                  First Quarter 2007 Branch Summary

                              12/31/06       Opened       Closed      3/31/07
    United States

      Branch                       408            2                       410
      Will Call Express             20                                     20
    Mexico                           8                                      8
    China
       Branch                        1                                      1
       Will Call Express             1                                      1
           Total                   438            2            0          440

Sales in the United States increased 10 percent, with growth coming from all customer end-markets. The strongest sales growth came from government customers followed by commercial markets. Another 1 percentage point of growth came from sales of seasonal products related to the cold weather experienced across much of the country during the quarter.