Trading Statement

Wolseley PLC
21 January 2002


                                NEWS RELEASE
                              21  January 2002

                                 Wolseley plc
                       Pre Close Period Trading Update

Following the events of 11 September we issued a comprehensive trading update
statement on 13 December 2001, the day prior to the company's Annual General
Meeting ('AGM').  In accordance with our usual practice, we are issuing today
a pre half year end update on the current trading of the group and the
business outlook. There will be a conference call for analysts this morning,
further details of which are set out below, to provide an opportunity to ask
questions about the pre close period trading update.


Taking into account trading over the additional five weeks since the AGM,
there has been no significant change to the group's overall trading position
or the outlook as stated in the 13 December statement.


For the five months ended 31 December 2001 group sales are up over 13%
(including acquisitions) on the corresponding period in the previous year.
After excluding the effect of the remaining manufacturing activities disposed
of in February 2001, the increase in the group's sales is over 15%.


No further acquisitions have been completed since the statement on 13
December.   Good cash flow generation for the month of December has resulted
in a further reduction in net borrowings.  At 31 December 2001, net borrowings
were £625 million, giving gearing of approximately 40%.


The group's interim results for the six months ending 31 January 2002 will be
announced on Tuesday 19 March 2002.

                                    -END-


ENQUIRIES:


Wolseley plc                                         Brunswick Group Ltd
Tel: [phone]                                    Tel: [phone]                                                 
              
                                                                 

Steve Webster - Group Finance Director               Andrew Fenwick
Jacqueline Sinclair-Brown - Director of Corporate    Sophie Fitton
Communications (mob: [phone])
                                                                 
Steve Webster, the Group Finance Director, will host a brief conference call
for analysts at 0930 hrs (GMT):

Dial in: [phone]
Password: Wolseley

NB: By dialing this number, you will be requesting participation in any
discussions of the matters referred to in the analysts' presentation and of
any other matters raised at the presentation (including matters raised in
questions or referred to in the answers to questions).

There will be playback available after 11.00 hrs (GMT) for 48hrs:
          Dial in: [phone]
          Pin No: 645 352





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