Jack in the Box Reports 4-Week Sales

Jack in the Box Inc. (NYSE: JBX), operator and franchiser of Jack in the Box® restaurants, today announced a 3.5 percent year-to-year improvement in same-store average weekly sales for the recent four-week period, which ended December 24.

Through the first 12 weeks of the 16-week first quarter, the company has reported same-store sales improvement of just over 4 percent. Although sales are running slightly higher than expected, so are produce and energy costs. Still, the company's earnings outlook for the first quarter of fiscal 2001, ending January 21, remains unchanged at 58-to-62 cents per share.

Founded in 1951, Jack in the Box is the nation's first major drive-thru hamburger chain. With fiscal-year 2000 systemwide sales of nearly $2 billion, the San Diego-based company operates or franchises more than 1,650 quick-service restaurants in 15 states and has more than 40,000 employees. For additional financial information, visit the "Investor's'' section on the company's Web site, www.jackinthebox.com.