<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000794367
<NAME> FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-03-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-28-1995
<CASH>                                         158,027
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,780,861
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  3,905,535
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             7,142,210<F1>
<PP&E>                                       6,220,895
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              15,354,202<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        3,882,341
<BONDS>                                      5,943,473
<COMMON>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                           0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                15,354,202<F3>
<SALES>                                      3,748,369
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,328,577
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,314,814
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             142,217
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (25,311)<F4>
<INCOME-TAX>                                    21,084
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (46,395)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.23)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.23)
<FN>
<F1>Includes the following:
     Supplies and prepaid expenses             120,191
     Deferred income tax assets                177,596
<F2>Includes the following:
     Intangible assets - net                 1,160,661
     Notes receivable                          407,209
     Other assets                              423,227
<F3>Includes the following:
     Deferred income taxes                     911,525
     Other liabilities                         593,023
     Shareholders' equity                    4,023,840
<F4>Includes the following:
     Interest income                            11,928
</FN>