News Release

CHICAGO, May 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Grainger (NYSE: GWW) today reported sales results for the month of April 2012.  Daily sales increased 12 percent versus April 2011.  Results for the month included a 5 percentage point contribution from acquisitions.  Excluding acquisitions, organic sales increased 7 percent, including 5 percentage points from volume and 3 percentage points from price, partially offset by a 1 percentage point decline from foreign exchange.  April 2012 had 21 selling days, the same as April 2011.  The 2012 second quarter will have the same number of selling days as the 2011 second quarter (64 days).

Please visit www.grainger.com/investor to access a recorded message with additional details about April 2012 sales.  Grainger is scheduled to report May sales on Monday, June 11, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.

W.W. Grainger, Inc. with 2011 sales of $8.1 billion is North America's leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products, with expanding global operations. For more information about the company, visit www.grainger.com/investor.

SOURCE W.W. Grainger, Inc.

Media, Robb Kristopher, Director, Media Relations, O: +1-847-535-0879, M: +1-773-931-8880, or Kellie Harris, Manager, Media Relations, O: +1-847-535-1542, M: +1-847-643-6298, or Investors, Laura Brown, SVP, Communications & Investor Relations, O: +1-847-535-0409, M: +1-847-804-1383, or William Chapman, Senior Director, Investor Relations, O: +1-847-535-0881, M: +1-847-456-8647, all of W.W. Grainger, Inc.