The problem is that Excel is interpreting the * as a wildcard character.
Based on your limited sample this array formula** will work:

=INDEX(LastMthCost!B2:B3,MATCH(TRUE,EXACT(A2,LastM thCost!A2:A3),0))

** array formulas need to be entered using the key combination of
CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER (not just ENTER)

Note that the EXACT function requires that a lilteral *exact* match must be
found. This means that it's case sensitive.

Using EXACT, these values will not match:

M03541224*a
M03541224*A
m03541224*a

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Michelle" wrote in message
...
Formula used for LastMthCost is =vlookup(A2,LastMthCost!A2:B3,2,FALSE)
Instead of returning 1.5 but i got 2.5!!!!! Please help

Worksheet: ThisMthCost
A B
1 PartNum LastMthCost
2 M03541224*a 2.5

Worksheet: LastMthCost
A B
1 PartNum LastMthCost
2 M03541224**a 2.5
3 M03541224*a 1.5