UNITED STATES 
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
                           Washington, D.C. 20549 
 
                                 FORM 10-K 
 
/X/ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
 
    For the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997 
 
/ / TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
 
    For the transition period from _______ to _______ 
 
                      Commission file number 0-6074 
 
                            Nordstrom, Inc. 
        ______________________________________________________ 
        (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) 
 
              Washington                          91-0515058 
  _______________________________              __________________ 
  (State or other jurisdiction of                (IRS employer 
   incorporation or organization)              Identification No.) 
 
              1501 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington  98101 
          ______________________________________________________ 
            (Address of principal executive office)  (Zip code) 
 
   Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  206-628-2111 
 
     Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: 
                               None 
 
     Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: 
 
                   Common Stock, without par value 
                 ____________________________________ 
                           (Title of class) 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports  
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of  
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the  
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to  
such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES /X/  NO / / 
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405  
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the  
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements  
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to  
this Form 10-K.  /X/ 
 
 
 
 
                                    1 of 14 



On March 17, 1997, 78,682,335 shares of common stock were outstanding, and  
the aggregate market value of those shares (based upon the closing price as  
reported by NASDAQ) held by non-affiliates was approximately $1.9 billion.  
 
 
                   Documents Incorporated by Reference:  
Portions of Nordstrom, Inc. 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders  
    (Parts I, II and IV) 
Portions of Proxy Statement for 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders  
    (Part III) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                    2 of 14 

                                 PART I 
Item 1.  Business. 
- ------------------ 
 
Nordstrom, Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated in the State of Washington in  
1946 as successor to a retail shoe business started in 1901. As of January 31,  
1997, the Company operates 62 large specialty stores in Alaska, California,  
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New
York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, selling a
wide selection of apparel, shoes and accessories for women, men and children. 
 
The Company also operates nineteen stores under the name "Nordstrom Rack" and  
one clearance store which serve as outlets for clearance merchandise from the  
Company's large specialty stores.  The Racks also purchase merchandise  
directly from manufacturers.  The Racks are located in California, Illinois,  
Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.  
 
The Company also operates a men's specialty boutique in New York under the
name "Faconnable", and leased shoe departments in twelve department stores in
Hawaii and Guam.  The licenses for the leased shoe departments have been 
terminated effective November 17, 1997.  In addition, the Company operates a 
Direct Sales Division which commenced operations in January 1994 with the 
mailing of its first catalog. 
 
In August 1997, the Company will open a large specialty store in Long Island,
New York and two more large specialty stores in West Hartford, Connecticut and
Cleveland, Ohio in September 1997.  In February 1997, the Company opened two
new Rack stores in Southern California, which replaced existing Rack 
locations.  The Company will open two new Racks in Bellevue, Washington, in 
May 1997 and in Hempstead, New York, in September 1997.  The Company also
plans to open a men's and women's Faconnable boutique in Beverly Hills,
California in September to complete its planned new store opening schedule 
for 1997.  In 1998, three new large specialty stores are planned to open in 
Atlanta, Georgia, Overland Park, Kansas, and Scottsdale, Arizona.  In 1998, 
the Company also plans to open a new flagship store in downtown Seattle,
Washington, and to remodel a store in San Diego, California.

The Company regularly employs on a full or part-time basis an average of  
approximately 39,600 employees.  Due to the seasonal nature of the Company's  
business, the number increased to approximately 46,000 employees in July for  
the Company's anniversary sale, and in December for the Christmas selling 
season. 
 
The Company's business is highly competitive.  Its stores compete with other  
national, regional and local retail establishments within its operating areas  
which carry similar lines of merchandise, including department stores, 
specialty stores, boutiques and mail order businesses.  The Company  
believes the principal methods of competing in its industry include customer 
service, value, fashion, advertising, store location and depth of selection. 
 
Certain other information required under Item 1 is contained within the  
following sections of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders, which  
sections are incorporated by reference herein from Exhibit 13.1 of this  
report: 
           Message to Our Shareholders
           Management Discussion and Analysis 
           Note 1 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
           Note 12 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements  
           Retail Store Facilities 

                                    3 of 14 

Executive Officers of the Registrant 
- ------------------------------------ 


                                               Officer 
       Name          Age      Title             Since      Family Relationship 
- -------------------- --- ------------------    -------     ------------------- 
                                           
Jammie Baugh         43   Executive Vice        1990              None 
                           President 
 
Gail A. Cottle       45   Executive Vice        1985              None 
                           President 
 
John A. Goesling     51   Executive Vice        1980              None 
                           President and Treasurer 
 
Jack F. Irving       52   Executive Vice        1980              None 
                           President 
 
Blake W. Nordstrom   36   Co-President          1991   Brother of Erik B. and 
                                                         Peter E. Nordstrom 
 
Erik B. Nordstrom    33   Co-President          1995   Brother of Blake W. and 
                                                         Peter E. Nordstrom 
 
J. Daniel Nordstrom  34   Co-President          1995   Brother of William E. 
                                                         Nordstrom and cousin
                                                         of James A. Nordstrom
 
James A. Nordstrom   35   Co-President          1991   Cousin of J. Daniel and 
                                                         William E. Nordstrom 
 
Peter E. Nordstrom   34   Co-President          1995   Brother of Blake W. and 
                                                         Erik B. Nordstrom 
 
William E. Nordstrom 33   Co-President          1995   Brother of J. Daniel 
                                                         Nordstrom and cousin
                                                         of James A. Nordstrom
 
John C. Walgamott    51   President of          1991            None 
                           Nordstrom Credit, Inc. 
                           and Nordstrom National 
                           Credit Bank 
 
John J. Whitacre     44   Chairman of the       1989            None 
                           Board of Directors 
<FN>
All of the above people that have not been officers for the past five years  
have been full-time employees of the Company during that period.  The officers  
are re-elected annually by the Board of Directors following each year's Annual  
Meeting of Shareholders.  Each officer is elected for a term of one year and
until a successor is elected and qualifies. 





                                    4 of 14 


 
Item 2.  Properties. 
- -------------------- 

The following table summarizes at January 31, 1997 the number of stores owned  
or operated by the Company and the percentage of total store area represented  
by each listed category: 

                                     Number of     % of total store 
                                      stores        square footage 
                                     ---------     ---------------- 
                                             
         Owned Stores                   21                25% 
         Leased Stores                  30                19 
         Owned on leased land           29                51 
         Partly owned & partly leased    3                 5 
                                     ---------     ---------------- 
                                        83               100% 
                                     =========     ================ 

The Company also operates seven merchandise distribution centers, five of  
which are owned and two of which are leased. The Company leases its principal  
offices in Seattle, Washington, and owns an office building in the Denver,  
Colorado metropolitan area which serves as the principal offices of Nordstrom  
Credit, Inc. and Nordstrom National Credit Bank. 
 
Certain other information required under this item is included in the  
following sections of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders, which  
sections are incorporated by reference herein from Exhibit 13.1 of this 
report:  
 
           Note 6 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
           Retail Store Facilities 
 
 
Item 3.  Legal Proceedings. 
- --------------------------- 
 
The Company is not involved in any material pending legal proceedings, other  
than routine litigation in the ordinary course of business.  
 
 
Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. 
- ------------------------------------------------------------- 
         None 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


                                    5 of 14 

                                PART II 
Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder 
         Matters. 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
The Company's Common Stock, without par value, is traded on the NASDAQ
National Market under the symbol "NOBE."  The approximate number of  
holders of Common Stock as of March 17, 1997 was 74,000. 
 
Certain other information required under this item with respect to stock  
prices and dividends is included in the following sections of the Company's  
1996 Annual Report to Shareholders, which sections are incorporated by  
reference herein from Exhibit 13.1 of this report: 
 
           Financial Highlights 
           Stock Trading 
           Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity 
           Note 8 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
           Note 13 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
Item 6.  Selected Financial Data. 
- --------------------------------- 
 
The information required under this item is included in the following section  
of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders, which section is  
incorporated by reference herein from Exhibit 13.1 of this report: 
 
           Ten-Year Statistical Summary 
 
Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
         Results of Operations. 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
The information required under this item is included in the following section  
of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders, which sections are  
incorporated by reference herein from Exhibit 13.1 of this report: 
 
           Management Discussion and Analysis 
           Note 5 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 
- ----------------------------------------------------- 

The information required under this item is included in the following
sections of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders, which sections
are incorporated by reference herein from Exhibit 13.1 of this report: 
 
           Consolidated Statements of Earnings 
           Consolidated Balance Sheets 
           Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity 
           Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 
           Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
           Independent Auditors' Report 

Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and 
         Financial Disclosure. 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
         None 
 
                                    6 of 14 

                                PART III 
 
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant. 
- ------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
The information required under this item with respect to the Company's  
Directors and compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is included in  
the following sections of the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual  
Meeting of Shareholders, which sections are incorporated by reference herein  
and will be filed within 120 days after the end of the Company's fiscal year:  
 
           Election of Directors 
           Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act of 1934 
 
The information required under this item with respect to the Company's  
Executive Officers is incorporated by reference from Part I, Item 1 of this  
report under "Executive Officers of the Registrant". 
 
 
Item 11. Executive Compensation. 
- -------------------------------- 
 
The information required under this item is included in the following sections  
of the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders,  
which sections are incorporated by reference herein and will be filed within  
120 days after the end of the Company's fiscal year: 
 
           Compensation of Executive Officers in the Year Ended 
              January 31, 1997 
           Compensation and Stock Option Committee Report on Fiscal Year 
              1996 Executive Compensation 
           Stock Price Performance 
           Compensation of Directors 
           Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation 
 
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management. 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
The information required under this item is included in the following section
of the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
which section is incorporated by reference herein and will be filed within 120
days after the end of the Company's fiscal year: 
 
           Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
 
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions. 
- -------------------------------------------------------- 
 
The information required under this item is included in the following sections 
of the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, 
which sections are incorporated by reference herein and will be filed within 
120 days after the end of the Company's fiscal year: 
 
         Election of Directors 
         Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation 
 
 


                                    7 of 14

                                PART IV 
 
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K. 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
(a)1.    Financial Statements 
         -------------------- 
 
The following consolidated financial information and statements of  
Nordstrom, Inc. and its subsidiaries and the Independent Auditors' Report are  
incorporated by reference herein from Exhibit 13.1 of this report: 
 
         Consolidated Statements of Earnings 
         Consolidated Balance Sheets 
         Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity 
         Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 
         Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
         Independent Auditors' Report 
 
(a)2.    Financial Statement Schedules 
         ----------------------------- 
 
                                                                    Page 
                                                                    ---- 
         Independent Auditors' Consent and Report on Schedule        13 
         II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts                      14 
 
         Other schedules for which provision is made in Regulation S-X are not  
         required, are inapplicable, or the information is included in the  
         Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders as incorporated by  
         reference herein from Exhibit 13.1 of this report. 
  
(a)3. Exhibits 
      -------- 
 
     (3.1)  Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant are hereby  
            incorporated by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for the  
            year ended January 31, 1989, Exhibit A. 
 
     (3.2)  By-laws of the Registrant, as amended, are filed herein as an
            Exhibit.
 
     (4.1)  The Indenture between Nordstrom Credit, Inc. (a wholly-owned  
            subsidiary of the Registrant) and Norwest Bank Colorado, N.A.,
            as successor trustee, dated November 15, 1984, the First
            Supplement thereto dated January 15, 1988, the Second Supplement
            thereto dated June 1, 1989 and the Third Supplement thereto dated
            October 19, 1990 are hereby incorporated by reference from 
            Registration No. 33-3765, Exhibit 4.2; Registration No. 33-19743,
            Exhibit 4.2; Registration No. 33-29193, Exhibit 4.3; and the 
            Nordstrom Credit, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K (SEC File No.
            0-12994) for the year ended January 31, 1991, Exhibit 4.2, 
            respectively. 
 
            Securities authorized under each of any other long-term debt  
            instruments of the Company or its subsidiaries do not exceed 10%  
            of the consolidated total assets of the Company and its  
            subsidiaries.  The Company will furnish a copy of any such long-  
            term debt instrument or agreement to the Commission upon request. 
 
                                    8 of 14

(a)3.  Exhibits (continued)
       --------------------

     (4.2)  Trustee Resignation of Wells Fargo Bank (Colorado), N.A., (as  
            successor to First Interstate Bank of Denver, N.A.), dated
            March 20, 1997 is filed herein as an Exhibit.
 
     (4.3)  Trustee Acceptance of Norwest Bank Colorado, N.A., dated
            March 20, 1997 is filed herein as an Exhibit. 
 
    (10.1)  Operating Agreement dated August 30, 1991 between Nordstrom  
            Credit, Inc. and Nordstrom National Credit Bank is hereby  
            incorporated by reference from the Nordstrom Credit, Inc.  
            Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (SEC File No. 0-12994) for the  
            quarter ended July 31, 1991, Exhibit 10.1, as amended.  
 
    (10.2)  Merchant Agreement dated August 30, 1991 between Registrant and  
            Nordstrom National Credit Bank is hereby incorporated by reference  
            from the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the  
            quarter ended July 31, 1991, Exhibit 10.1. 
 
    (10.3)  The 1987 Nordstrom Stock Option Plan is hereby incorporated by  
            reference from the Registrant's Proxy Statement for the 1987  
            Annual Meeting of Shareholders. 
 
    (10.4)  The Nordstrom Supplemental Retirement Plan is hereby incorporated  
            by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended  
            January 31, 1993, Exhibit 10.3. 
 
    (10.5)  The 1993 Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan is hereby  
            incorporated by reference from the Registrant's Form 10-K for the  
            year ended January 31, 1994, Exhibit 10.4. 

    (10.6)  Investment Agreement dated October 8, 1984 between the Registrant  
            and Nordstrom Credit, Inc. is hereby incorporated by reference  
            from the Nordstrom Credit, Inc. Form 10, Exhibit 10.1.  

    (10.7)  Operating Agreement for VISA Accounts and Receivables dated May 1,  
            1994 between Nordstrom Credit, Inc. and Nordstrom National Credit  
            Bank is hereby incorporated by reference from Registration No.  
            33-55905, Exhibit 10.1. 

    (10.8)  Agreement to terminate the Operating Agreement for VISA Accounts
            and Receivables dated May 1, 1994 between Nordstrom Credit, Inc.
            and Nordstrom National Credit Bank, dated August 14, 1996 is
            hereby incorporated by reference from the Nordstrom Credit, Inc.
            Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31,
            1996, Exhibit 10.1.

    (10.9)  Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated August 14, 1996
            between Nordstrom National Credit Bank and Norwest Bank Colorado,
            N.A., as trustee, is hereby incorporated by reference from the
            Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
            October 31, 1996, Exhibit 10.1.





                                    9 of 14

(a)3.  Exhibits (continued)
       --------------------

   (10.10)  Series 1996-A Supplement to Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement
            dated August 14, 1996 between Nordstrom National Credit Bank,
            Nordstrom Credit, Inc. and Norwest Bank Colorado, N.A., as
            trustee, is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant's
            Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31,
            1996, Exhibit 10.2.

   (10.11)  Transfer and Administration Agreement dated August 14, 1996
            between Nordstrom National Credit Bank, Enterprise Funding
            Corporation and Nationsbank, N.A. is hereby incorporated by
            reference from the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
            for the quarter ended October 31, 1996, Exhibit 10.3.

   (10.12)  Receivables Purchase Agreement dated August 14, 1996 between
            Registrant and Nordstrom Credit, Inc. is filed herein as an
            Exhibit.

   (10.13)  The Nordstrom, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan is hereby incorporated
            by reference from the Registrant's Proxy Statement for the 1997
            Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

    (13.1)  The Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders is filed herein  
            as an Exhibit. 
 
    (21.1)  List of the Registrant's Subsidiaries is filed herein as an  
            Exhibit. 
 
    (23.1)  Independent Auditors' Consent and Report on Schedule is on page 13  
            of this report. 
 
    (27.1)  Financial Data Schedule is filed herein as an Exhibit.  
 
      All other exhibits are omitted because they are not applicable, not  
      required, or because the required information is included in the  
      Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders.  
 




















                                    10 of 14

(b)   Reports on Form 8-K 
      ------------------- 
 
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of the period  
for which this report is filed. 
 

 
                               Signatures 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange  
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its  
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. 
 
 
      NORDSTROM, INC. 
         (Registrant) 
                              
                              
Date   March 31, 1997     by /s/                       John A. Goesling
       --------------        ------------------------------------------
                                                       John A. Goesling 
                                Executive Vice President and Treasurer 
                            (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer) 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this  
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the  
Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated. 
 


Principal Accounting and               Principal Executive Officer:
Financial Officer:                     
 
 
/s/            John A. Goesling        /s/             John J. Whitacre
- -------------------------------        --------------------------------
               John A. Goesling                        John J. Whitacre
       Executive Vice President                   Chairman and Director
                  and Treasurer


















                                    11 of 14



Directors: 

 
/s/            Philip M. Condit        /s/           Bruce A. Nordstrom
- -------------------------------        --------------------------------
               Philip M. Condit                      Bruce A. Nordstrom 
                       Director                                Director 
 
/s/          D. Wayne Gittinger        /s/            John N. Nordstrom 
- -------------------------------        -------------------------------- 
             D. Wayne Gittinger                       John N. Nordstrom 
                       Director                                Director 
 
/s/          Raymond A. Johnson        /s/       Alfred E. Osborne, Jr. 
- -------------------------------        -------------------------------- 
             Raymond A. Johnson                  Alfred E. Osborne, Jr. 
                       Director                                Director 
 
/s/            Charles A. Lynch        /s/       William D. Ruckelshaus 
- -------------------------------        -------------------------------- 
               Charles A. Lynch                  William D. Ruckelshaus 
                       Director                                Director 
 
/s/           Ann D. McLaughlin        /s/  Elizabeth Crownhart Vaughan 
- -------------------------------        -------------------------------- 
              Ann D. McLaughlin             Elizabeth Crownhart Vaughan 
                       Director                                Director 

/s/           John A. McMillan       /s/              John J. Whitacre 
- -------------------------------       --------------------------------- 
              John A. McMillan                        John J. Whitacre
                       Director      Chairman of the Board of Directors
 
 
 
Date             March 31, 1997 
    ___________________________ 
 
 
 

















                                    12 of 14



                               Exhibit 23.1 
 
            INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT AND REPORT ON SCHEDULE 
 
 
 
Shareholders and Board of Directors 
Nordstrom, Inc. 
 
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statements Nos.  
33-18321 and 33-28882 of Nordstrom, Inc. on Form S-8 of our reports dated  
March 10, 1997 appearing in and incorporated by reference in this Annual  
Report on Form 10-K of Nordstrom, Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended  
January 31, 1997. 
 
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Nordstrom, Inc. and  
subsidiaries as of January 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three years  
in the period ended January 31, 1997, and have issued our report thereon dated  
March 10, 1997; such financial statements and report are included in your 1996  
Annual Report to Shareholders and are incorporated herein by reference. Our  
audits also included the consolidated financial statement schedule of  
Nordstrom, Inc. and subsidiaries, listed in Item 14(a)2. This financial  
statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management.  Our  
responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion,  
such consolidated financial statement schedule, when considered in relation  
to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents  
fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.  
 
 
 
Deloitte & Touche LLP 
March 31, 1997 
Seattle, Washington 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
  
                                    13 of 14 



                     NORDSTROM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
 
              SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS 
 
                         (Dollars in thousands) 


       Column A             Column B     Column C      Column D    Column E 
      ----------           ----------   ----------   ----------   --------- 
 
                                        Additions    Deductions 
                                        ----------   ---------- 
                                                      Account 
                           Balance at   Charged to   write-offs    Balance 
                           beginning    costs and      net of     at end of 
Description                of period    expenses     recoveries    period 
- -----------                ----------   ----------   ----------   --------- 
                                                   
Allowance for doubtful accounts: 
 
Year ended: 
 
  January 31, 1995            $23,145      $20,219      $20,406     $22,958 
 
  January 31, 1996            $22,958      $39,589      $33,154     $29,393 
 
  January 31, 1997            $29,393      $51,352      $53,952     $26,793 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

                                    14 of 14

NORDSTROM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 

Exhibit Index 

Exhibit                                          Method of Filing 
- -------                                          ---------------- 
                                           
 3.1  Articles of Incorporation                  Incorporated by reference  
                                                   from the Registrant's Form  
                                                   10-K for the year ended  
                                                   January 31, 1989,  
                                                   Exhibit A
 
 3.2  By-laws, as amended                        Filed herewith electronically
 
 4.1  Indenture between Nordstrom Credit,        Incorporated by reference
        Inc. and Norwest Bank Colorado,            from Registration
        N.A., as successor trustee,                No. 33-3765, Exhibit 4.2;
        dated November 15, 1984, the First         Registration No. 33-19743,
        Supplement thereto dated January 15,       Exhibit 4.2; Registration
        1988, the Second Supplement thereto        No. 33-29193, Exhibit 4.3;
        dated June 1, 1989 and the Third           and the Nordstrom Credit, 
        Supplement thereto dated October 19,       Inc. Annual Report on Form
        1990                                       10-K (SEC File No. 0-12994)
                                                   for the year ended January
                                                   31, 1991, Exhibit 4.2,
                                                   respectively
 
 4.2  Trustee Resignation of Wells Fargo         Filed herewith electronically
        Bank (Colorado), N.A., dated            
        March 20, 1997                    
 
 4.3  Trustee Acceptance of Norwest Bank         Filed herewith electronically
        Colorado, N.A., dated March 20,            
        1997                                       
 
10.1  Operating Agreement dated August 30, 1991  Incorporated by reference  
        between Nordstrom Credit, Inc. and         from the Nordstrom Credit, 
        Nordstrom National Credit Bank             Inc. Quarterly Report on  
                                                   Form 10-Q (SEC File No.  
                                                   0-12994) for the quarter  
                                                   ended July 31, 1991,  
                                                   Exhibit 10.1, as amended. 
 
10.2  Merchant Agreement dated August 30, 1991   Incorporated by reference  
        between Registrant and Nordstrom           from the Registrant's  
        National Credit Bank                       Quarterly Report on Form 
                                                   10-Q for the quarter ended 
                                                   July 31, 1991, Exhibit 10.1

10.3  1987 Nordstrom Stock Option Plan           Incorporated by reference 
                                                   from the Registrant's Proxy 
                                                   Statement for the 1987  
                                                   Annual Meeting of  
                                                   Shareholders. 
 
10.4  Nordstrom Supplemental Retirement Plan     Incorporated by reference 
                                                   from the Registrant's Form  
                                                   10-K for the year ended  
                                                   January 31, 1993, Exhibit  
                                                   10.3. 

Exhibit Index (continued)
- -------------------------

10.5  1993 Non-Employee Director Stock           Incorporated by reference 
        Incentive Plan                             from the Registrant's Form  
                                                   10-K for the year ended  
                                                   January 31, 1994, Exhibit  
                                                   10.4. 
 
10.6  Investment Agreement dated October 8,      Incorporated by reference 
        1984 between the Registrant and            from the Nordstrom Credit, 
        Nordstrom Credit, Inc.                     Inc. Form 10, Exhibit 10.1. 
 
10.7  Operating Agreement for VISA Accounts      Incorporated by reference 
        and Receivables dated May 1, 1994          from Registration No. 33- 
        between Nordstrom Credit, Inc. and         55905, Exhibit 10.1. 
        Nordstrom National Credit Bank 
 
10.8  Agreement to terminate the Operating       Incorporated by reference
        Agreement for VISA Accounts and            from the Nordstrom Credit,
        Receivables dated May 1, 1994              Inc. Quarterly Report on 
        between Nordstrom Credit, Inc.             Form 10-Q for the quarter
        and Nordstrom National Credit              ended October 31, 1996,
        Bank, dated August 14, 1996                Exhibit 10.1

10.9  Master Pooling and Servicing               Incorporated by reference
        Agreement dated August 14, 1996            from the Registrant's
        between Nordstrom National Credit          Quarterly Report on Form
        Bank and Norwest Bank Colorado,            10-Q for the quarter ended
        N.A., as trustee                           October 31, 1996, Exhibit 
                                                   10.1.

10.10 Series 1996-A Supplement to Master         Incorporated by reference
        Pooling and Servicing Agreement            from the Registrant's
        dated August 14, 1996 between              Quarterly Report on Form
        Nordstrom National Credit Bank,            10-Q for the quarter ended
        Nordstrom Credit, Inc. and Norwest         October 31, 1996, Exhibit
        Bank Colorado, N.A., as trustee            10.2.

10.11 Transfer and Administration Agreement      Incorporated by reference
        dated August 14, 1996 between              from the Registrant's
        Nordstrom National Credit Bank,            Quarterly Report on Form
        Enterprise Funding Corporation and         10-Q for the quarter ended
        Nationsbank, N.A.                          October 31, 1996, Exhibit
                                                   10.3.

10.12 Receivables Purchase Agreement             Filed herewith electronically
        dated August 14, 1996 between
        Registrant and Nordstrom Credit,
        Inc.

10.13 1997 Nordstrom Stock Option Plan           Incorporated by reference
                                                   from the Registrant's Proxy
                                                   Statement for the 1997
                                                   Annual Meeting of
                                                   Shareholders.

13.1  1996 Annual Report to Shareholders         Filed herewith electronically 
 
21.1  Subsidiaries of the Registrant             Filed herewith electronically 
 
Exhibit Index (continued)
- -------------------------

23.1  Independent Auditors' Consent 
        and Report on Schedule                   Filed herewith electronically 
 
27.1  Financial Data Schedule                    Filed herewith electronically