<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information from the Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements as presented in Saks Incorporated Form 10-Q
for the three and nine periods ended October 30, 1999 and October 31, 1998.

(All amounts accept per share amounts in thousands)
</LEGEND>

                                                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-29-2000             JAN-30-1999             JAN-29-2000             JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-30-1999             OCT-31-1998             OCT-30-1999             OCT-31-1998
<CASH>                                          20,949                   3,937                  20,949                   3,937
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  172,334                 182,898                 172,334                 182,898
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                  1,872,257               1,768,242               1,872,257               1,768,242
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,218,705               2,051,026               2,218,705               2,051,026
<PP&E>                                       2,300,596               2,061,741               2,300,596               2,061,741
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,420,470               5,043,418               5,420,470               5,043,418
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,100,957               1,043,821               1,100,957               1,043,821
<BONDS>                                      2,090,011               1,692,538               2,090,011               1,692,538
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                        14,309                  14,318                  14,309                  14,318
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,048,574               1,868,320               2,048,574               1,868,320
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,420,470               5,043,418               5,420,470               5,043,418
<SALES>                                      1,599,171               1,472,817               4,570,227               4,169,163
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,599,171               1,472,817               4,570,227               4,169,163
<CGS>                                        1,012,361                 978,613               2,919,363               2,720,767
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,012,361                 978,613               2,919,363               2,720,767
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               511,563                 594,192               1,421,390               1,445,589
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              33,847                  27,133                 103,135                  76,425
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 41,478               (145,528)                 129,237                (91,271)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    15,578                (38,374)                  50,783                (16,223)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             25,900               (106,154)                  78,454                (75,048)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                (21,556)                 (9,261)                (21,890)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,900               (127,710)                  69,193                (96,938)
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .18                   (.89)                     .48                     .68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .18                   (.89)                     .47                     .68