**Exhibit99**

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**CONTACT:**

**George R. Mahoney, Jr.**

Executive Vice President

704) 814-3252

http://www.familydollar.com

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

 

 

# **FAMILYDOLLAR REPORTS SALES FOR MARCH 2005**

 

 

MATTHEWS, NC, April 7, 2005 - Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (NYSE:FDO), a discount store chain operating 5,622 stores in 44 states, reportedsales for the five week period ended April 2, 2005, of approximately $552.7million or 10.5% above sales of $500.3 million for the similar period in theprior year.  Sales in comparable storesfor the five week period ended April 2, 2005, increased approximately 2.4%above comparable store sales for the similar period in the prior year,including an increase of approximately 4.0% in sales of hardlines and adecrease of approximately 2.9% in sales of softlines.

**Sales of softlines and other seasonal goods were adverselyimpacted by unusually cool weather.  Asubstantial change in March in the merchandise assortment and presentation inthe household chemicals department resulted in lower than planned sales in thatdepartment.  The transition was completedin most stores during March, and sales of household chemicals in the last weekof the March reporting period improved. The Company believes that the shift of Easter from the April reportingperiod last year to the March reporting period this year did not favorablyimpact sales, as the benefit to March from the earlier Easter was offset by thefact that the Company’s stores are closed on Easter Sunday.  Sales at the end of the March reporting periodwere aided by an advertising circular that was distributed on March 30 and thatwill run through April 6.**

**For the thirty-one week period ended April 2, 2005, saleswere approximately $3.520 billion or 11.8% above sales of $3.148 billion forthe similar period in the prior fiscal year. Sales in comparable**

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**storesfor the thirty-one week period ended April 2, 2005, increased approximately3.4% above comparable store sales for the similar period in the prior fiscalyear, including an increase of approximately 5.0% in sales of hardlines and adecrease of approximately 2.1% in sales of softlines.**

**As of April 2, 2005, there were 5,618 stores in operation,including 23 stores that were opened during the five week period ended on thatdate.**

**The Company’s plan is for sales in comparable stores toincrease in the 3% to 5% range in the four week period ending April 30, 2005.**

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**Certain statements**contained in this press releaseor in other press releases, public filings, or other written or oralcommunications made by the Company or our representatives, which are nothistorical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safeharbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.These forward-looking statements address the Company’s plans, activities orevents which the Company expects will or may occur in the future.  These forward-looking statements may beidentified by the use of the words “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,”“probably,” “should,” “project,” “intend,” “continue,” and similar terms andexpressions.  Various risks,uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materiallyfrom those expressed in any forward-looking statements.  Such risks, uncertainties and other factorsinclude, but are not limited to, competitive factors and pricing pressures,changes in economic conditions, the impact of acts of war or terrorism, changesin consumer demand and product mix, unusual weather that may impact sales, theimpact of inflation, merchandise supply and pricing constraints, success ofmerchandising and marketing programs, general transportation or distributiondelays or interruptions, dependence on imports, changes in currency exchangerates, trade restrictions, tariffs, quotas, and freight rates, availability ofreal estate, costs and delays associated with building, opening and operatingnew distribution facilities and stores, costs, potential problems andachievement of results associated with the implementation of new programs,systems and technology, including supply chain systems, store technology,cooler installations and urban initiative programs, changes in food and energyprices and their impact on consumer spending and the Company’s costs, adverseimpacts associated with legal proceedings and claims, changes in shrinkage,changes in health care and other insurance costs, changes in the Company’sability to attract and retain employees, changes in state or federallegislation or regulations, including the effects of legislation and regulationson wage levels and entitlement programs. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made by the Companyin this and other documents or statements are qualified by these and otherfactors, risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place unduereliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dateof this release. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or reviseits forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make itclear that projected results expressed or implied in such statements will notbe realized.

 

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4/7/05

 

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