<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as presented in Saks Incorporated
Form 10-Q for the quarterly and nine-month periods ended October 28, 2000 and
October 30, 1999.
</LEGEND>

                                                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           FEB-3-2001             JAN-29-2000              FEB-3-2001             JAN-29-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-28-2000             OCT-30-1999             OCT-28-2000             OCT-30-1999
<CASH>                                      20,128,000              20,949,000              20,128,000              20,949,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                              198,019,000             172,334,000             198,019,000             172,334,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                              1,912,388,000           1,872,257,000           1,912,388,000           1,872,257,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         2,248,760,000           2,218,705,000           2,248,760,000           2,218,705,000
<PP&E>                                   2,408,180,000           2,294,537,000           2,408,180,000           2,294,537,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           5,446,316,000           5,420,470,000           5,446,316,000           5,420,470,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    1,168,372,000           1,100,957,000           1,168,372,000           1,100,957,000
<BONDS>                                  1,948,234,000           2,090,011,000           1,948,234,000           2,090,011,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                    14,268,000              14,309,000              14,268,000              14,309,000
<OTHER-SE>                               2,207,850,000           2,048,574,000           2,207,850,000           2,048,574,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             5,466,316,000           5,420,470,000           5,466,316,000           5,420,470,000
<SALES>                                  1,565,708,000           1,547,476,000           4,450,433,000           4,386,789,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         1,565,708,000           1,547,476,000           4,450,433,000           4,386,789,000
<CGS>                                    1,002,317,000             960,666,000           2,840,855,000           2,735,925,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0                       0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           539,559,000             511,485,000           1,474,739,000           1,418,492,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          36,851,000              33,847,000             109,234,000             103,135,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           (13,019,000)              41,478,000              25,605,000             129,237,000
<INCOME-TAX>                               (4,870,000)              15,578,000               5,686,000              50,783,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (8,149,000)              25,900,000              19,919,000              78,454,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0             (9,261,000)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (8,149)              25,900,000              19,919,000              69,193,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.06)                    0.18                    0.14                    0.48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.06)                    0.18                    0.14                    0.47