__________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________



                          UNITED STATES
                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20549


                            FORM 11-K


          Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Mark One)

(X)  Annual Report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934 (No fee required, effective October 7,
     1996)


                For Year Ended:  January 31, 1998

(  ) Transition Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934 (No fee required) For the transition
     period from ___________________ to __________________


                Commission File Number: 333-25213

A.   Full title of plan and the address of the plan, if different
     from that of the issuer named below:


             Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan


B.   Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and
     the address of its principal executive office:

                        Saks Incorporated
            750 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL  35211

_________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

                            SIGNATURES

     The Plan.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees  (or other persons who
administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual
report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.


                                   Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k)
                                   Retirement Plan
                                   ______________________________
                                             (Name of Plan)



Dated:  June 29, 1999              By:  /s/ Douglas E. Coltharp
                                        _________________________
                                        Douglas E. Coltharp
                                        Executive Vice President
                                        and Chief Financial
                                        Officer



                          EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number     Description of Document                Page
    23             Consent of Independent Accountants



             Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) retirement plan
         financial statements and supplemental schedules
                    December 31, 1998 and 1997



Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Table of Contents                                           Pages

Report of Independent Accountants                               1

Financial Statements:
  Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
    as of December 31, 1998 and 1997                            2

  Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for
    Plan Benefits for the year ended December 31, 1998          3

  Notes to Financial Statements                              4-11

Supplemental Schedules:
*Item 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes
  as of December 31, 1998                                      12

*Item 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions for the year
  ended December 31, 1998                                   13-15

*Refers to item number in Form 5500 (Annual Return/Report
   of Employee Benefit Plan) for the plan year ended December
   31, 1998


Report of Independent Accountants

To the Administrator
Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan

In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present
fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for plan
benefits of the Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan (the
"Plan") as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the changes in net
assets available for plan benefits for the year ended December 31,
1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's
management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits
of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards which require that we plan and perform the audits to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on
a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.

Our audit of the Plan's financial statements as of and for the year
ended December 31, 1998, was made for the purpose of forming an
opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The
supplemental schedules, as listed on the accompanying index, are
presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a
required part of the basic financial statements, but are
supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's
Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental
schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in
the audit of the basic financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 1998, and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all
material respects in relation to the basic financial statements
taken as a whole.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Birmingham, Alabama
June 25, 1999


Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
as of December 31, 1998 and 1997

                                                    1998           1997
                                                   --------      --------
               ASSETS

Investments, at fair value                       $181,492,127   $83,957,255
Employee contribution receivable                      830,642       443,912
Employer contribution receivable                    2,328,941     1,707,840
Investment income receivable                                        701,660
                                                  -----------   -----------
        Total assets                              184,651,710    86,810,667

             LIABILITIES

Accrued administrative fees                           135,325         4,929
                                                  -----------   -----------
        Net assets available for plan
          benefits                               $184,516,385   $86,805,738
                                                  ===========   ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.


Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
for the year ended December 31, 1998

Increase in net assets available for plan benefits:
  Interest and dividend income                                 $5,185,777
  Net depreciation in fair value of investments                (8,204,570)
  Contributions:
    Employer                                                    2,230,867
    Employee                                                   13,083,753
    Rollover                                                      352,600
  Transfers from merged plans                                 114,778,333
                                                              ------------
        Total increases                                       127,426,760
                                                              ------------
Decrease in net assets available for plan benefits:
  Benefit payments                                             29,006,779
  Administrative fees                                             709,334
                                                              ------------
        Total decreases                                        29,716,113
                                                              ------------
        Net increase                                           97,710,647

Net assets available for plan benefits, beginning
  of year                                                      86,805,738
                                                              ------------
Net assets available for plan benefits, end of year          $184,516,385
                                                              ============

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.


Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements

1.   Description of the Plan

     Proffitt's, Inc. (Proffitt's) adopted the Proffitt's, Inc.
     401(k) Retirement Plan (the Plan) in order to provide
     retirement benefits for its eligible employees. In
     connection with the Proffitt's, Inc. September 17, 1998
     merger with Saks Holdings, Inc., Proffitt's changed its
     corporate name to Saks Incorporated (Saks or the Employer).
     The following description of the Plan provides only general
     information. Participants should refer to the plan agreement
     for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions.

     General - The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering
     all eligible employees of Saks and certain subsidiaries who
     are a minimum 21 years of age, are regularly scheduled to
     work at least 30 hours a week, and have completed at least
     one year of employment. Leased employees and individuals who
     are represented by collective bargaining groups are not
     eligible to participate in the Plan. The Plan is subject to
     the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security
     Act of 1974 (ERISA).

     During 1998, the Board of Directors of Saks amended the Plan
     in order to provide for the merger of the G. R. Herberger's
     Inc. 401(k) Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Employee Stock
     Ownership Plan (the Herberger's Plan), the Carson Pirie
     Scott & Company Savings Plan, and the Brody Brothers Dry
     Goods Company, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the Brody's
     Plan) into the Plan and to change the trustee of the Plan
     from Trustmark National Bank to AmSouth Bank. The Board of
     Directors also authorized the transfer of certain
     participant accounts and assets from the Mercantile Stores
     Savings, Profit Sharing and Supplemental Retirement Plan
     (the Mercantile Plan) and the C.J. Gayfer Company, Inc.
     Savings and Profit Sharing Plan (the Gayfer Plan) to the
     Plan as direct plan-to-plan transfers, with such transfers
     to occur as soon as administratively feasible after the
     closing dates of the respective store acquisitions.  The
     statement  of changes in net assets available for plan
     benefits for the year ended December 31, 1998 includes all
     activity of the Herberger's Plan and the Brody's Plan
     subsequent to the respective transfer dates. As of December
     31, 1998, the Carson Pirie Scott & Company Savings Plan and
     certain participant accounts and assets of the Mercantile
     and Gayfer's plans had not yet merged into the Plan.

     Contributions - The Employer contributes to the Plan a
     discretionary amount of cash or employer stock as approved
     by the Employer's Board of Directors. The Employer's
     contributions are not mandatory and are not based on the
     operations or net profits of the Employer. Employer
     contributions may be 0% or any positive percentage
     multiplied by matchable salary deferrals, as defined in the
     Plan. Employer contributions may not exceed 5% of the
     compensation of each participant making salary deferral
     contributions. Participants voluntarily contribute to the
     Plan up to 20% of the total compensation paid by the
     Employer to such participants subject to certain limitations
     set annually by the Internal Revenue Service.

     Participant Accounts - Each participant's account is
     credited with the participant's contribution, the Employer's
     discretionary contribution, and an allocation of the Plan's
     earnings or losses. Allocations are based on account
     balances as defined by the plan document.

     Vesting - Participants are immediately vested in their
     contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the
     Employer's discretionary contribution portion plus actual
     earnings thereon is based on years of credited service as
     follows:

                          Years of             Vested
                           Service           Percentage
                          -----------        ------------
                          Less than 5             0%
                          5 or more             100%

     The vested percentage shall be 100% for a participant on and
     after attainment of normal retirement age, death, or
     disability (all as defined in the plan document).

     Participant Loans - The Plan does not allow participants to
     borrow from their fund accounts. However, in connection with
     the merger of the Parisian Plan into the Plan, all
     outstanding loans under the Parisian Plan were transferred
     to the Plan. Such outstanding balances will be maintained by
     the Plan until all amounts of principal and interest thereon
     have been repaid. No new loans or extension of existing
     loans will be made.

     Forfeitures - Forfeitures occur when a nonvested participant
     receives a distribution of the full vested value or incurs a
     break in service, as defined in the plan document.
     Forfeitures are used to reduce future employer
     contributions. At December 31, 1998 and 1997, the Plan had
     $180,129 and $149,984 of unallocated forfeitures included in
     net assets available for plan benefits, respectively.

     Distribution of Benefits - Plan benefits are distributed
     upon retirement, death, or termination of service. A
     participant may elect to receive a lump sum distribution
     equal to the vested balance of his/her account or periodic
     installments over a period of time not exceeding the
     participant's life expectancy (or the joint life expectancy
     of the participant and his/her beneficiary).

     Termination of the Plan - Although it has not expressed any
     intent to do so, the Employer has the right to terminate the
     Plan at any time. In the event of termination of the Plan,
     participants become fully vested and will be entitled to the
     full value of their accounts.

2.   Significant Accounting Policies

     Basis of Accounting - The accounts of the Plan are
     maintained on the accrual basis of accounting and have been
     prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
     principles.

     Income Tax Status - The Internal Revenue Service has
     determined and informed the Company by a letter dated April
     23, 1998, that the Plan is designed in accordance with
     applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
     Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included
     in the financial statements.

     Valuation of Investments - Investments of the Plan are
     stated in the accompanying financial statements at fair
     value as determined by the trustee based on quoted market
     prices.

     Purchases and sales of investments are reflected as of the
     trade date. Investment income is recorded when earned.

     In accordance with the policy of stating investments at fair
     value, the Plan presents in the statement of changes in net
     assets available for plan benefits the net appreciation or
     depreciation in the fair value of its investments which
     consists of the realized gains or losses and the unrealized
     appreciation or depreciation on those investments.

     Contributions - Contributions from the Employer are accrued
     based on amounts declared by the Employer's Board of
     Directors. Contributions from employees are recorded in the
     period in which the Employer makes the deductions from the
     participant's payroll.

     Expenses of the Plan - Expenses of $709,334 incurred in the
     administration of the Plan during the 1998 plan year were paid
     by the Plan.  The Plan funds payment for expenses by assessing
     a uniform 0.24% annual charge on the fair value of each fund.
     The plan administrator has designatd the LaSalle Income Plus Fund
     to pay the majority of the Plan's expenses.  Accordingly, each
     fund transfers the amount of the assessed charge to the LaSalle
     fund to pay plan expenses.

     Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements
     in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
     requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
     affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
     disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates
     of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
     additions and deductions during the reporting periods.
     Actual results could differ from those estimates.

3.   Investments

     Investments are allocated to the following funds as directed
     by the participants:

     LaSalle Income Plus Fund - Fund assets are used to invest in
     a broadly diversified portfolio of investment contracts
     issued by insurance companies, banks, and other financial
     institutions. The fund seeks to maintain a stable share
     price and expects to maintain a weighted average maturity of
     two to three years.

     Strong Corporate Bond Fund - Fund assets are invested in a
     broadly diversified portfolio of debt securities issued by
     U.S. corporations, U.S. government securities, municipal
     obligations, mortgage backed securities, and other fixed
     income investments. The fund seeks to mix higher returns
     with a fixed income investment.

     Vanguard/Wellington Fund - The fund seeks current income and
     moderate growth by following a diversified and balanced
     program of investing in bonds and common stocks. The bonds
     are held for relative stability of income and principal,
     while the common stocks are held for potential growth of
     capital and income.

     Vanguard Index 500 Fund - The fund seeks to replicate the
     aggregate price and yield performance of the Standard and
     Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the Index) by
     investing in common stocks of all 500 companies included in
     the Index. The fund seeks to provide long-term investment
     results. During 1998, this fund option was replaced with the
     Vanguard Institutional Fund (the New Fund). Accordingly, all
     assets held in this fund were transferred to the New Fund.

     Vanguard Institutional Index Fund - The fund seeks to
     provide long-term growth of capital and income from
     dividends by investing in common stocks of all 500 companies
     included in the S&P 500 Index in approximately the same
     proportions as they are represented in the Index.

     Fidelity Low-Priced Stock Fund - Fund assets are invested
     primarily in the common stocks of smaller U.S. companies
     whose stock prices are perceived to be undervalued in order
     to provide long-term investment results. During 1998, this
     fund option was replaced with the Neuberger & Berman Equity
     Fund (the New Fund). Accordingly, all assets held in this
     fund were transferred to the New Fund.

     Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund - The fund invests primarily
     in the common stock of smaller U.S. companies whose
     prospects for growth are believed to be favorable in order
     to provide long-term investment results with lower levels of
     dividend income.

     Warburg Pincus International Equity Fund - The fund invests
     primarily in the common stocks of companies outside of the
     United States in order to provide long-term investment
     results with lower levels of dividend income.

     Neuberger & Berman Equity Fund - The fund seeks long-term
     capital appreciation and invests in a broadly diversified
     portfolio of securities and smaller U.S. companies whose
     stock prices are believed to be undervalued.

     Saks Incorporated Common Stock Fund - The fund primarily
     consists of investments made in Saks common stock. The
     remaining portion of this fund is invested in money market
     funds to allow for liquidity needs and to allow for the time
     required to buy and sell individual shares of Saks stock.

     Investment information as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and
     for the year ended December 31, 1998 is as follows:

                                                      1998        1997
                                                    --------    --------
Money market funds:
  AmSouth Prime Obligation                           $609,459
  Performance Money Market                                        $77,530
Mutual funds:
  Fidelity Low-Priced Stock                                     9,907,287
  Franklin Small Cap Growth                        12,231,369   8,030,250
  LaSalle Income Plus                              19,011,376  14,072,608
  Vanguard Institutional Index                     39,214,039
  Strong Corporate Bond                            11,182,798   6,366,782
  Vanguard/Wellington                              21,708,316  11,561,490
  Vanguard Index 500                                           19,854,942
  Neuberger & Berman Equity                        11,974,598
  Warburg Pincus International Equity               5,355,844   3,959,754
Common stock:
  Saks Incorporated                                59,964,303   9,676,342
Participant loans                                     240,025     450,270
                                                  ----------- -----------
                                                 $181,492,127 $83,957,255
                                                  =========== ===========
Interest and dividend income                       $5,185,777
                                                  ===========
Net depreciation in fair value of
  investments                                      $8,204,570
                                                  ===========

     Each of the above investments, with the exception of
     investments in the Performance Money Market Fund, the
     AmSouth Prime Obligation Fund, the Warburg Pincus
     International Equity Fund, and the Participant loan funds
     exceeds 5% of the Plan's net assets available for plan
     benefits at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

     The Plan's investments (including investments bought and
     sold, as well as those held during the year) had net
     appreciation (depreciation) in value during the year ended
     December 31, 1998, as follows:

          Mutual funds                                   $4,664,970
          Common stock                                  (12,869,540)
                                                        ------------
                                                        $(8,204,570)

4.   Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits by Investment Program

     The Plan provides for separate investment programs which
     allow participants to direct their investing between eight
     different investment programs. These programs have various
     investment options including Saks Incorporated common stock
     and various mutual and money market funds. The underlying
     assets of the various mutual funds are invested in publicly
     traded equity, debt and other securities.

     Set forth below are net assets available for plan benefits
     classified according to investment program as of December
     31, 1998 and 1997:


                                                            LaSalle         Strong                    Vanguard
                                    Holding    Participant   Income       Corporate      Vanguard/  Institutional
                1998                 Account      Loans       Plus           Bond       Wellington      Index
                                    ---------   ---------   ---------     ---------      ---------    ---------
                                                                                  
Investments, at fair value           $609,459    $240,025  $19,011,376   $11,182,798   $21,708,316  $39,214,039
Employee contribution receivable                               174,705        52,979       109,923      187,183
Employer contribution receivable
                                   ----------  ----------   ----------    ----------    ----------   ----------
Total assets                          609,459     240,025   19,186,081    11,235,777    21,818,239   39,401,222

Accrued administrative fees                                    135,325
                                   ----------  ----------   ----------    ----------    ----------   ----------
Net assets available for plan
   benefits                          $609,459    $240,025  $19,050,756   $11,235,777   $21,818,239   39,401,222
                                   ==========  ==========   ==========   ===========   ===========   ==========



                                    Franklin    Warburg                     Saks
                                     Small      Pincus     Neuberger    Incorporated
                                      Cap    International  & Berman      Common
                                     Growth     Equity       Equity        Stock         Total
                                    ---------  ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------
                                                                      
Investments, at fair value        $12,231,369  $5,355,844  $11,974,598  $59,964,303  $181,492,127
Employee contribution receivable       73,740      40,903       75,831      115,378       830,642
Employer contribution receivable                                          2,328,941     2,328,941
                                   ----------  ----------   ----------   ----------  ------------
Total assets                       12,305,109   5,396,747   12,050,429    62,408,622  184,651,710

Accrued administrative fees                                                               135,325
                                   ----------  ----------   ----------    ----------  -----------
Net assets available for plan
  benefits                        $12,305,109  $5,396,747  $12,050,429   $62,408,622 $184,516,385
                                   ==========  ==========   ==========    ==========  ===========



                                                          LaSalle        Strong                    Vanguard
                                    Holding   Participant  Income      Corporate  Vanguard/         Index
              1997                  Account     Loans       Plus         Bond     Wellington         500
                                   ---------  ---------   ---------   ---------    ---------     ---------
                                                                             
Investments, at fair value            $77,530  $450,270  $14,072,608  $6,366,782  $11,561,490  $19,854,942
Employee contribution receivable      443,912
Employer contribution receivable
Investment income receivable                                  68,257      39,662                   234,651
                                   ----------- ---------  ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------
Total assets                          521,442   450,270   14,140,865   6,406,444   11,561,490   20,089,593

Accrued adiministrative fees            4,929
                                   ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------   ----------  -----------
Net assets available for plan
  benefits                           $516,513  $450,270  $14,140,865  $6,406,444  $11,561,490  $20,089,593
                                   ========== ========== ===========  ==========  ===========  ===========



                                    Fidelity    Franklin  Warburg           Saks
                                      Low-       Small     Pincus       Incorporated
                                     Priced       Cap   International     Common
                                      Stock      Growth     Equity         Stock        Total
                                    ---------  ---------   ---------     ---------    ---------
                                                                      
Investments, at fair value         $9,907,287  $8,030,250   $3,959,754   $9,676,342  $83,957,255
Employee contribution receivable                                                         443,912
Employer contribution receivable                                          1,707,840    1,707,840
Investment income receivable                      359,090                                701,660
                                   ----------  ----------   ----------    ----------  ----------
Total assets                        9,907,287   8,389,340    3,959,754   11,384,182   86,810,667

Accrued administrative fees                                                                4,929
                                   ----------  ----------   ----------    ----------  ----------
Net assets available for plan
   benefits                        $9,907,287  $8,389,340   $3,959,754  $11,384,182  $86,805,738
                                   ==========  ==========   ==========  ===========  ===========


5.   Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits by Investment Program

     Set forth below are changes in net assets available for plan benefits
     by investment program for the year ended December 31, 1998:


                                                           LaSalle      Strong
                                    Holding  Participant   Income     Corporate  Vanguard/    Vanguard
                                    Account    Loans        Plus        Bond    Wellington    Index 500
                                   ---------  ---------   --------- ---------    ---------    ---------
                                                                           
Increase in net assets available for
  plan benefits:
    Interest and dividend income    $449,771    $2,371     $862,234    $480,350  $2,298,333
    Net appreciation (depreciation)
      in fair value of investments              29,478      138,498     150,679    (731,770)   $2,823,194
    Contributions:
      Employer
      Employee                                            1,735,983     882,327   1,852,742       556,498
      Rollover                                               98,717      29,032      28,290        12,657
    Transfer from merged plans                  77,302      381,011      10,391     126,309
                                   --------- ----------   ----------  ----------  ----------   ----------
        Total increases              449,771   109,151    3,216,443   1,552,779   3,573,904     3,392,349

Decreases in net assets available for
  plan benefits:
    Benefit payments                            79,228    5,415,935   1,615,637   2,642,833       593,481
    Administrative expenses                                 704,202         737       2,316           283
                                   --------- ----------   ----------  ----------  ----------   ----------
        Total decreases                    0    79,228    6,120,137   1,616,374   2,645,149       593,764

        Net increase prior to interfund
          transfers                  449,771    29,923   (2,903,694)    (63,595)    928,755     2,798,585
Interfund transfers, net            (356,825) (240,168)   7,813,585   4,892,928   9,327,994   (22,888,178)
                                   ---------- ---------   ----------  ----------  ----------   ----------
         Net increase (decrease)      92,946  (210,245)   4,909,891   4,829,333  10,256,749   (20,089,593)
Net assets available for plan benefits,
  beginning of year                  516,513   450,270   14,140,865   6,406,444  11,561,490    20,089,593
                                   --------- ---------   ----------  ----------  ----------    ----------
Net assets available for plan benefits,
  end of year                       $609,459  $240,025  $19,050,756 $11,235,777 $21,818,239            $0
                                   =========  ========= ===========  ==========  ==========    ==========



                                                Fidelity   Franklin    Warburg                       Saks
                                   Vanguard       Low-      Small       Pincus      Neuberger    Incorporated
                                Institutional    Priced      Cap      International  & Berman      Common
                                    Index         Stock     Growth       Equity      Equity         Stock           Total
                                  ---------     ---------  ---------   ---------   ---------       --------        --------
                                                                                            
Increase in net assets available for
  plan benefits:
    Interest and dividend income    $735,566                  $172,621              $184,531                     $5,185,777
    Net appreciation (depreciation)
      in fair value of investments 3,613,419     $916,780     (500,631)  $(20,126)(1,754,551)    $(12,869,540)   (8,204,570)
    Contributions:
      Employer                                                                                      2,230,867     2,230,867
      Employee                     2,543,250      253,898    1,340,211     737,710 1,131,057        2,050,077    13,083,753
      Rollover                        54,927        1,325       32,299       7,719    39,358           48,276       352,600
    Transfer from merged plans       316,982                    85,717     110,522    85,997      113,584,102   114,778,333
                                   ----------   ----------  -----------  ---------- ---------     -----------   -----------
        Total increases            7,264,144    1,172,003    1,130,217     835,825  (313,608)     105,043,782   127,426,760

Decreases in net assets available for
  plan benefits:
    Benefit payments               3,848,824      254,548    1,452,882     740,515 1,067,404       11,295,492    29,006,779
    Administrative expenses              712           69           77          10        83              845       709,334
                                  ----------    ---------   -----------   --------- ---------     -----------    -----------
        Total decreases            3,849,536      254,617    1,452,959     740,525 1,067,487       11,296,337    29,716,113

        Net increase prior to interfund
          transfers                3,414,608      917,386     (322,742)     95,300 (1,381,095)     93,747,445    97,710,647
Interfund transfers, net          35,986,614  (10,824,673)   4,238,511   1,341,693 13,431,524     (42,723,005)            0
                                  ----------  ----------   ------------ ---------- ----------       ----------   -----------
        Net increase (decrease)   39,401,222   (9,907,287)   3,915,769   1,436,993 12,050,429      51,024,440    97,710,647
Net assets available for plan benefits,
  beginning of year                             9,907,287    8,389,340   3,959,754                 11,384,182    86,805,738
                                 ----------   -----------  ------------ ---------- ----------     -----------    ----------
Net assets available for plan benefits,
  end of year                    $39,401,222           $0  $12,305,109  $5,396,747 $12,050,429    $62,408,622  $184,516,385
                                 ===========  ===========  ===========  ========== ===========    ===========  ============


6.   Form 5500

     Any differences existing between the Form 5500 and the numbers included
     in this report relate directly to accruals reflected in the financial
     statements.

7.   Subsequent Event

     Effective January 1, 1999, the Board of Directors of Saks amended and
     restated the Plan in order to change the name of the Plan to "Saks
     Incorporated 401(k) Retirement Plan," eliminate the one year eligibility
     requirement for exempt employees and replace it with a three-month
     service requirement for non-exempt employees, add a "last day of the
     year requirement" for a participant to be eligible for the matching
     contribution, and to allow the employer to make, on a discretionary
     basis, "bonus" matching contributions, as deemed appropriate.



                            Supplemental Schedules

Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Item 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes
as of December 31, 1998


                                                                                
                                         c. Description of Investment Including
       b. Identity of Issuer, Borrower,     Maturity Date, Rate of Interest,                 e. Current
  a.      Lessor, or Similar Party          Collateral, Par, or Maturity Value   d. Cost        Value
 ----- --------------------------------  --------------------------------------  -------     ----------
  *    AmSouth Prime Obligation          Money market fund                       $609,459     $609,459
  *    Participant loans                 Various interest rates and maturities    240,025      240,025
       LaSalle Income Plus               Mutual fund                           19,009,977   19,011,376
       Strong Corporate Bond             Mutual fund                           10,886,907   11,182,798
       Vanguard/Wellington               Mutual fund                           21,642,425   21,708,316
       Vanguard Institutional Index      Mutual fund                           35,609,626   39,214,039
       Neuberger & Berman Equity         Mutual fund                           13,394,094   11,974,598
       Franklin Small Cap Growth         Mutual fund                           11,725,023   12,231,369
       Warburg Pincus International
        Equity                           Mutual fund                            6,028,776    5,355,844
  *    Saks Incorporated                 Employer common stock                 22,234,521   59,964,303
                                                                             ------------ ------------
                                                                             $141,380,833 $181,492,127
                                                                             ============ ============
  * Party-in-interest to the Plan.




Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Item 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions
for the year ended December 31, 1998

I.   Single transactions exceeding 5% of assets.

                            See attached schedule.

       NOTE - Information required in Columns e and f is inapplicable.

II.  Series of transactions involving property other than securities.

                                     NONE

III. Series of transactions of same issue exceeding 5% of assets.

                            See attached schedule.

     NOTE - Information required in Columns e, f, and h is inapplicable.

IV.  Transactions in conjunction with same person involved in reportable
     single transactions.

                                     NONE


Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Item 27d(l) - Schedule of Reportable Transactions
for the year ended December 31, 1998



                                                                                          
                                                                                            h. Current
                                                                                               Value of
                                                                                               Asset on
a. Identity of                b.  Description       c. Pruchase    d. Sales     g. Cost of     Transaction
   Party Involved                 of Asset             Price          Price        Asset       Date          i. Net Gain
- ----------------------        -----------------     -----------    ----------   ----------- --------------   -----------
*AmSouth Prime Obligation     Money market fund      $5,774,158                               $5,774,158
*AmSouth Prime Obligation     Money market fund                    $5,436,454    $5,436,454   $5,436,454              $0
 Performance Money Market     Money market fund     $33,106,315                              $33,106,315
 Performance Money Market     Money market fund      $5,905,903                               $5,905,903
*Saks Incorporated            Employer common stock               $33,106,315    $4,243,187  $33,106,315     $28,863,128
*Saks Incorporated            Employer common stock                $5,905,903      $623,647   $5,905,903      $5,282,256
Peformance Money Market       Money market fund                   $43,867,088   $42,867,088  $43,867,088              $0
Franklin Small Cap Growth     Mutual fund            $4,878,828                               $4,878,828
LaSalle Income Plus           Mutual fund            $7,775,072                               $7,775,072
Nueberger & Berman Genesis    Mutual fund           $11,092,580                              $11,092,580
Vanguard/Wellington           Mutual fund            $9,038,394                               $9,038,394
Vanguard Institutional Index  Mutual fund           $12,701,394                              $12,701,394
Employee Benefit Money Market Money market fund     $11,105,791                              $11,105,791
Fidelity Low-Priced Stock     Mutual fund                         $11,096,917    $9,123,244  $11,096,917      $1,973,673
Employee Benefit Money Market Money market fund                   $11,105,791   $11,105,791  $11,105,791              $0



Proffitt's, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Item 27d(III) - Schedule of Reportable Transactions
for the year ended December 31, 1998


                                                                                 
                                              c.  Purchases             d. Sales
a. Identity Of            b. Description     ------------------    ---------------------  g. Cost of
   Party Involved            Of Asset          Price    Number       Price       Number     Asset     i. Net Gain
- -----------------------   -----------------   -------  -------      -------     -------  -----------  -----------
 Fidelity Low-Priced Stock   Mutual fund     $699,093      60     11,528,497    69      $9,475,854    $2,052,643
 Franklin Small Cap Growth   Mutual fund   $7,907,180     183     $3,187,145    279     $2,775,265      $411,880
 LaSalle Income Plus         Mutual fund  $15,959,132     232    $11,112,946    370    $11,112,946            $0
 Neuberger & Berman Genesis  Mutual fund  $17,082,109     116     $3,361,053    217     $3,698,397     $(337,344)
 Strong Corporate Bond       Mutual fund   $7,866,556     199     $3,188,696    274     $3,004,426      $184,270
 Vanguard/Wellington         Mutual fund  $15,598,112     233     $4,733,937    275     $4,128,990      $604,947
 Vanguard Institutional
   Index                     Mutual fund  $20,476,309    188     $7,949,837    241     $6,572,982    $1,376,855
 Warburg Pincus Inter-
   national Equity           Mutual fund   $2,957,493    134     $1,537,310    231     $1,772,827     $(235,517)
*Saks Incorporated           Employer common
                              stock        $5,923,073    176    $51,951,300    222     $9,327,372   $42,623,928
Employee Benefit Money
   Market                    Money market
                              fund        $11,105,791      1    $11,105,791      1    $11,105,791            $0
Performance Money Market     Money market
                              fund        $67,400,724    104    $67,459,653     92    $67,459,653            $0
*AmSouth Prime Obligation    Money market
                              fund         $5,903,320     47     $5,436,454     35     $5,436,454            $0


*Party-in-interest to the Plan.