Exhibit 23 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS The Board of Directors Federated Department Stores, Inc. We consent to the use of our report dated March 4, 1997 on the consolidated financial statements of Federated Department Stores, Inc. and subsidiaries as of February 1, 1997 and February 3, 1996, and for the fifty-two week period ended February 1, 1997, the fifty-three week period ended February 3, 1996, and the fifty-two week period ended January 28, 1995, incorporated herein by reference. /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Cincinnati, Ohio January 15, 1998