<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000794367
<NAME> FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-03-1996
<CASH>                                         134,133
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,768,417
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  3,234,271
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             6,429,091<F1>
<PP&E>                                       6,270,870
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              14,032,369<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        2,765,143
<BONDS>                                      5,644,524
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                           0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                14,032,369<F3>
<SALES>                                      3,284,228
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,995,573
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,212,901
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             126,996
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (39,860)<F4>
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (12,667)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (27,193)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.13)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.13)
<FN>
<F1>Includes the following:
          Supplies and prepaid expenses       176,729
          Deferred income tax assets          115,541
<F2>Includes the following:
          Intangible assets - net             731,047
          Notes receivable                    204,035
          Other assets                        397,326
<F3>Includes the following:
          Deferred income taxes               730,725
          Other liabilities                   561,847
          Shareholders' Equity              4,330,130
<F4>Includes the following:
          Interest Income                      11,382
</FN>