EXHIBIT 12 - STATEMENT RE: COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts in thousands) Six Months Ended Fiscal Year Ended August 1 August 2 January 31 February 1 February 3 January 28 January 29 1998 1997 1998 1997 1996 * 1995 1994 Consolidated pretax income $176,216 $162,860 $410,035 $378,761 $269,653 $406,110 $399,534 Fixed charges (less capitalized interest) 75,726 71,095 147,466 139,188 139,666 145,921 152,568 EARNINGS $251,942 $233,955 557,501 517,949 409,319 552,031 552,102 Interest $68,998 $63,939 129,237 120,599 120,054 124,282 130,915 Capitalized interest 1,876 1,786 3,644 4,420 3,567 2,545 1,882 Interest factor in rent expens 6,728 7,156 18,229 18,589 19,612 21,639 21,653 FIXED CHARGES $77,602 $72,881 151,110 143,608 143,233 148,466 154,450 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 3.25 3.21 3.69 3.61 2.86 3.72 3.57 * 53 Weeks