PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 7, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Urban Outfitters, Inc. (Nasdaq:URBN), a leading lifestyle specialty retail company operating under the Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain and Urban Outfitters brands, today announced sales for the three and six months ended July 31, 2008.

Total Company sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2009 increased by 30% over the same period last year to $454.3 million. Comparable ('comp') store sales at Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters rose 7%, 10% and 19%, respectively, for a combined increase of 13%. Direct-to-consumer sales surged 42% and Free People wholesale sales increased 14%.

"I am extremely pleased with our sales performance during the second quarter," said Glen T. Senk, Chief Executive Officer. "All of our brands and channels executed exceptionally well, with the Urban brand gaining momentum as they headed into the important "back-to-school" season. We believe these results are driven by our ability to inspire our customers with unique product and a distinctive shopping experience," finished Mr. Senk.

 Net sales for the three and six months were as follows:

                                Three months ended   Six months ended
                                      July 31,           July 31,
                                  2008      2007      2008      2007
                                  ----      ----      ----      ----
                                   (in thousands)     (in thousands)
 Urban Outfitters stores        $189,812  $140,931  $349,602  $270,839
 Anthropologie stores            165,615   137,558   311,211   256,157
 Free People stores                7,759     3,300    13,618     5,990
 Terrain                           2,608        --     3,225        --
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
  Net store sales                365,794   281,789   677,656   532,986
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Direct-to-consumer               60,498    42,538   118,746    86,045
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
  Retail segment net sales       426,292   324,327   796,402   619,031
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Wholesale                        28,003    24,122    52,185    43,962
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
  Total net sales               $454,295  $348,449  $848,587  $662,993
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

During the six months ended July 31, 2008 the Company has opened a total of 24 new stores including: 10 new Urban Outfitters stores, 7 new Anthropologie stores, 6 new Free People stores and one new Terrain garden center. The Company expects to open 45 new stores during the full fiscal year and will release earnings results for the three and six months ended July 31, 2008 on August 14, 2008.

Urban Outfitters, Inc. is an innovative specialty retail company which offers a variety of lifestyle merchandise to highly defined customer niches through 132 Urban Outfitters stores in the United States, Canada, and Europe, two web sites and a catalog; 115 Anthropologie stores, a web site, catalog and Liefsdottir Anthropologie's newly launched wholesale concept; Free People Wholesale, which sells its product to approximately 1,700 specialty stores and select department stores; 21 Free People stores, a web-site and catalog; and one Terrain garden center as of July 31, 2008.

This news release is being made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain matters contained in this filing may constitute forward-looking statements. Any one, or all, of the following factors could cause actual financial results to differ materially from those financial results mentioned in the forward-looking statements: the difficulty in predicting and responding to shifts in fashion trends, changes in the level of competitive pricing and promotional activity and other industry factors, overall economic and market conditions and the resultant impact on consumer spending patterns, including any effects of terrorist acts or war, availability of suitable retail space for expansion, timing of store openings, seasonal fluctuations in gross sales, the departure of one or more key senior managers, import risks, including potential disruptions and changes in duties, tariffs and quotas and other risks identified in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that actual results may differ materially from any projected results expressed or implied therein.