EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

AMERICAN EAGLE

OUTFITTERS

Reports Record First Quarter EPS from Continuing Operations

of $0.35 versus $0.18 Last Year;
Comparable Store Sales Increase 27.1%;

Provides Second Quarter EPS Guidance

Warrendale, PA, May 12, 2005 - American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ: AEOS) today announced its consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended April 30, 2005.

• Total sales increased 36.7% to $454.0 million from $332.2 million for the quarter ended May 1, 2004.

• Comparable store sales increased 27.1% when compared to the corresponding period last year.

• Gross profit as a percent to sales increased to 48.9% from 44.7% last year due to the leveraging of rent expense and an improvement in merchandise margins.

• Operating income for the quarter increased to $87.5 million, or 19.3% as a percent to sales, from $43.1 million, or 13.0% as a percent to sales last year.

• Net income for the quarter increased to $55.3 million, or $0.35 per share on a diluted basis, from net income of $25.3 million, or $0.17 per share on a diluted basis last year (which included a $0.01 loss from discontinued operations).

Management also provided second quarter earnings guidance of $0.32 to $0.33 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.22 per share from continuing operations in the second quarter of last year.

* * * *

At 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on May 12, 2005, the Company's management team will host a conference call to review the financial results. To listen to the call, dial 877-601-0864 at least ten minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be simultaneously broadcast over the Internet at www.ae.com.  A replay will be available beginning May 12th at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time through May 26th.  To listen to the replay, dial 1-800-642-1687 and reference confirmation code #5555612. An audio replay of the conference call will also be available at www.ae.com.

* * * *

American Eagle Outfitters (NASDAQ: AEOS) is a leading lifestyle retailer that designs, markets and sells its own brand of relaxed, casual clothing for 15 to 25 year olds, providing high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. AE's collection includes modern basics like jeans, cargo pants and graphic T's as well as a stylish assortment of cool accessories, outerwear and footwear. American Eagle Outfitters currently operates 775 AE stores in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and 70 AE stores in Canada. AE also operates via its Web business, www.ae.com, which offers additional sizes and styles of favorite AE merchandise.

* * * *

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements, which represent our expectations or beliefs concerning future events, specifically regarding second quarter earnings. All forward-looking statements made by the Company involve material risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on factors beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, but are not limited to the risk that our second quarter sales, markdowns and/or earnings expectations may not be achieved, and those other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, the Company's future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied will not be realized.

* * * *

AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in thousands)
		April 30, 2005		January 29, 2005		May 1, 2004
		(Unaudited)				(Unaudited) (Restated)
ASSETS
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	561,297	$	589,607	$	326,268
Merchandise inventory		153,749		137,991		146,786
Other current assets		132,152		100,042		83,114
Total current assets		847,198		827,640		556,168
Property and equipment, net		349,493		353,213		339,198
Goodwill, net		10,136		10,136		10,136
Long-term investments		119,897		84,416		24,258
Other assets, net		29,899		18,254		27,568
Total Assets	$	1,356,623	$	1,293,659	$	957,328
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable	$	65,638	$	76,344	$	68,777
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes		30,105		36,008		22,546
Accrued rent		44,835		45,089		40,173
Accrued income and other taxes		25,636		33,926		18,152
Unredeemed stored value cards and gift certificates		22,287		32,724		18,181
Current portion of note payable		-		-		4,832
Current portion of deferred lease credits		10,457		9,798		9,966
Other current liabilities		14,618		19,376		13,091
Total current liabilities		213,576		253,265		195,718
Note Payable		-		-		12,660
Deferred lease credits		57,162		57,758		55,299
Other non-current liabilities		26,990		19,150		18,493
Total non-current liabilities		84,152		76,908		86,452
Total stockholders' equity		1,058,895		963,486		675,158
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	1,356,623	$	1,293,659	$	957,328
Current Ratio		3.97		3.27		2.84

* * * *

AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended
		April 30, 2005		May 1, 2004
				(Restated)
Net sales	$	454,019	$	332,230
Cost of sales, including certain buying, occupancy and warehousing expenses		231,859		183,511
Gross profit		222,160		148,719
Selling, general and administrative expenses		116,536		89,850
Depreciation and amortization		18,102		15,738
Operating income		87,522		43,131
Other income, net		2,975		940
Income before income taxes		90,497		44,071
Provision for income taxes		35,313		17,070
Income from continuing operations, net of tax		55,184		27,001
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		89		(1,727)
Net income	$	55,273	$	25,274
Basic per common share amounts:
Income from continuing operations	$	0.36	$	0.19
Loss from discontinued operations		0.00		(0.01)
Net income per basic common share	$	0.36	$	0.18
Diluted per common share amounts:
Income from continuing operations	$	0.35	$	0.18
Loss from discontinued operations		0.00		(0.01)
Net income per diluted common share	$	0.35	$	0.17
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic		151,582		143,012
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted		156,109		146,494

Total square footage at end of period:	4,549,729	4,285,182
Store count at end of period:	845	809

* * * *

AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS, INC. QUARTERLY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Quarterly financial information was presented in Note 15 of our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The aforementioned information was updated from that previously reported to reflect Bluenotes as discontinued operations and to reflect the restatement resulting from our change in lease accounting practices. The Quarterly Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) presented below reflect a more detailed presentation of the Fiscal 2004 quarterly information and are being presented for informational purposes only.
		Quarters Ended
		January 29, 2005		October 30, 2004		July 31, 2004
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)				(Restated)		(Restated)
Net sales	$	674,024	$	479,585	$	395,402
Cost of sales, including certain buying, occupancy and warehousing expenses		341,647		245,727		232,548
Gross profit		332,377		233,858		162,854
Selling, general and administrative expenses		142,386		119,642		94,951
Depreciation and amortization		18,304		17,345		16,886
Operating income		171,687		96,871		51,017
Other income (expense), net		3,343		(645)		491
Income before income taxes		175,030		96,226		51,508
Provision for income taxes		68,086		37,521		19,926
Income from continuing operations, net of tax		106,944		58,705		31,582
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit		(6,027)		(807)		(2,328)
Net income	$	100,917	$	57,898	$	29,254
Basic per common share amounts:
Income from continuing operations	$	0.73	$	0.40	$	0.22
Loss from discontinued operations		(0.04)		0.00		(0.02)
Net income per basic common share	$	0.69	$	0.40	$	0.20
Diluted per common share amounts:
Income from continuing operations	$	0.70	$	0.39	$	0.22
Loss from discontinued operations		(0.04)		(0.01)		(0.02)
Net income per diluted common share	$	0.66	$	0.38	$	0.20
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic		147,094		146,004		144,502
Weighted average common shares outstanding -diluted		153,402		151,570		148,328

Company Contacts:

Laura Weil

Judy Meehan

724-776-4857