National Press Release

GLENVIEW, Ill., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW) today reported an operating revenue decrease of 15 percent for the three months ended January 31, 2009. The revenue decline for the three months was due to a 16 percent decrease in base revenues and a 6 percent fall off in contributions from currency translation. Acquisitions contributed 7 percent to revenues in the period. The double-digit decrease in base revenues was primarily due to increasingly more negative macro and end market trends in North America, Europe and Asia as the three-month period progressed.

On a segment basis, the Company's three month moving average percentage change for operating revenues, comprised of base revenues, acquisitions/divestitures and currency translation, is provided below.

    (% change for 3 months ended January 31, 2009 versus prior year period)

    *Industrial Packaging:               -  20.4 %
    *Power Systems and Electronics:      -  19.0 %
    *Transportation:                     -  19.4 %
    *Food Equipment:                     -  10.9 %
    *Construction Products:              -  28.1 %
    *Polymers and Fluids:                +  12.9 %
    *All Other:                          -   8.3 %

Looking ahead, the Company is forecasting continuing and broad based weakness in worldwide end markets throughout 2009. Accordingly, the Company is forecasting first quarter 2009 diluted income per share from continuing operations to be in a range $0.26 to $0.42. The 2009 first quarter forecast assumes a total Company revenue range of - 17 percent to - 11 percent. For the full year, the Company is forecasting diluted income per share from continuing operations to be in a range of $1.84 to $2.48. The full year forecast assumes a total Company revenue range of -12 percent to -6 percent. If the Company meets the midpoints of the first quarter and full-year forecasts, diluted income per share from continuing operations would decrease 51 percent and 29 percent, respectively.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitations, statements regarding end markets, revenues, diluted income per share from continuing operations and the Company's related forecasts. These statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are set forth in ITW's Form 10-Q for the 2008 third quarter and Form 10-K for 2007.

With $15.9 billion in revenues, ITW is a multinational manufacturer of a diversified range of value-adding and short lead-time industrial products and equipment. The Company consists of 875 business units in 54 countries and employs some 65,000 people.

SOURCE Illinois Tool Works Inc.