<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 27.1
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PROFFITT'S INC. FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 
FEBRUARY 1, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>0000812900
<NAME> PROFFITT'S INC 
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-01-1997
<CASH>                                       3,382,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               85,400,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                447,164,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           595,963,000
<PP&E>                                     510,502,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,403,796,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      251,553,000
<BONDS>                                    612,345,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     2,802,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 537,096,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,403,796,000
<SALES>                                  1,889,779,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         1,924,750,000
<CGS>                                    1,230,454,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            1,230,454,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           158,053,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          26,756,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             68,985,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                31,586,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         37,399,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                37,399,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.41