Sales for the quarter increased 16.9 percent to $10.6 billion, up from $9.1 billion in the third quarter of 2004. Comparable store sales for the third quarter increased 6.2 percent. For the nine months ended October 28, sales increased 16.2 percent to $32.4 billion. Comparable store sales increased 5.5 percent in the first nine months of 2005.

?EUR??,,????'??Our performance, highlighted by positive comparable store sales in all of our 20 product categories and 19 of our 21 geographic regions, is a clear indication that consumers continue to invest in products and projects to maintain, enhance and improve their homes even in light of concerns about the impact of rising gasoline and home heating costs,?EUR??,,????'?? Robert A. Niblock, Lowe’s chairman, president and CEO said.