Limited Brands Reports October 2006 Sales

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Limited Brands today reported a comparable store sales increase of 9% for the four weeks ended October 28, 2006 compared to the four weeks ended October 29, 2005. Net sales increased 10% to $694.8 million compared to net sales of $629.0 million last year.

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Comparable store sales for the third quarter ended October 28, 2006 increased 10%. Net sales increased 12% to $2.115 billion compared to net sales of $1.892 billion last year.

The Company reported a comparable store sales increase of 7% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2006. Net sales increased 8% to $6.646 billion compared to net sales of $6.157 billion last year.

The Company stated that it expects to report third quarter earnings per share of $0.05 to $0.07, compared to $0.00 per share last year. The Company plans to release its final third quarter earnings results on Wednesday, November 15, 2006, after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange that day. The live earnings conference call is scheduled for 9 a.m. eastern time on Thursday, November 16th. Today's guidance update is being done in advance of the Company's annual investor update meeting on November 6 and 7, 2006.

To hear further commentary provided on Limited Brands' prerecorded October sales message, call 1-800-337-6551, followed by the passcode LTD (583), or log onto http://www.limitedbrands.com/ for an audio replay.

ABOUT LIMITED BRANDS:

Limited Brands, through Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, C.O. Bigelow, Express, Limited Stores, White Barn Candle Co., Henri Bendel and Diva London, presently operates 3,534 specialty stores. Victoria's Secret products are also available through the catalogue and http://www.victoriassecret.com/. Bath & Body Works products are also available through the catalogue and http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this press release or the October sales call or made by the Company or management of the Company involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, the Company's future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "planned," "potential" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect the Company's financial performance and actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this press release or the October sales call or otherwise made by the Company or management: risks associated with general economic conditions, consumer confidence and consumer spending patterns; the potential impact of national and international security concerns on the retail environment, including any possible military action, terrorist attacks or other hostilities; risks associated with the seasonality of the Company's business; risks associated with severe weather and changes in weather patterns; risks associated with the highly competitive nature of the retail industry generally and the segments in which we operate particularly; risks related to consumer acceptance of the Company's products and the Company's ability to keep up with fashion trends, develop new merchandise, launch new product lines successfully, offer products at the appropriate price points and enhance the Company's brand image; risks associated with the Company's ability to retain, hire and train key personnel and management; risks associated with the possible inability of the Company's manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner or meet quality standards; risks associated with the Company's reliance on foreign sources of production, including risks related to the disruption of imports by labor disputes, risks related to political instability, risks associated with legal and regulatory matters, risks related to duties, taxes, other charges and quotas on imports, risks related to local business practices, potential delays or disruptions in shipping and related pricing impacts and political issues and risks related to currency and exchange rates; risks associated with the dependence on a high volume of mall traffic and the possible lack of availability of suitable store locations on appropriate terms; risks associated with increases in the costs of mailing, paper and printing; risks associated with our ability to service any debt we incur from time to time as well as the requirements the agreements related to such debt impose upon us; risks associated with the Company's reliance on information technology, including risks related to the implementation of new information technology systems and risks related to utilizing third parties to provide information technology services; risks associated with natural disasters and risks associated with rising energy costs. The Company is not under any obligation and does not intend to make publicly available any update or other revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the October sales call to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized.

LIMITED BRANDS OCTOBER 2006 Comparable Store Sales Increase (Decrease): Third Third Year- Year- October October Quarter Quarter to-Date to-Date 2006 2005 2006 2005 2006 2005 Victoria's Secret Stores 14% (3%) 17% (4%) 12% (1%) Bath & Body Works 14% 2% 15% 1% 10% 6% Express 1% (9%) 0% (6%) (3%) (13%) Limited Stores (4%) (2%) (2%) 2% (4%) (2%) Total Apparel 0% (8%) (1%) (4%) (3%) (11%) Limited Brands 9% (4%) 10% (3%) 7% (3%) Total Sales (Millions): Third Third Year- Year- Quarter Quarter to-date to-date 2006 2005 2006 2005 Victoria's Secret Stores $ 745.2 $ 627.8 $ 2,350.9 $ 2,059.0 Victoria's Secret Direct 242.7 202.6 923.6 808.2 Total Victoria's Secret $ 987.9 $ 830.4 $ 3,274.5 $ 2,867.2 Bath & Body Works $ 414.3 $ 356.2 $ 1,380.8 $ 1,235.9 Express $ 409.8 $ 421.5 $ 1,159.4 $ 1,212.4 Limited Stores 119.2 130.6 338.5 380.8 Total Apparel $ 529.0 $ 552.1 $ 1,497.9 $ 1,593.2 Total Other $ 183.8 $ 152.9 $ 492.7 $ 461.1 Limited Brands $ 2,115.0 $ 1,891.6 $ 6,645.9 $ 6,157.4 Total Stores: Stores Year-to-date Express Stores Operating Integration Operating at 1/28/06 Opened Closed (see note) at 10/28/06 Victoria's Secret Stores 998 18 (15) - 1,001 Bath & Body Works 1,555 15 (17) - 1,553 Express Women 327 - (18) (87) 222 Express Men's 113 - (28) (2) 83 Express Dual Gender 303 1 (1) 89 392 Total Express 743 1 (47) - 697 Limited Stores 292 - (16) - 276 Total Apparel 1,035 1 (63) - 973 Henri Bendel 2 - - - 2 Diva London - 5 - - 5 Total Limited Brands 3,590 39 (95) - 3,534

Note: "Express Integration" represents conversion of Express Women and/or Express Men stores to Express dual gender stores.