EXHIBIT 99(i)


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In  connection  with the  Quarterly  Report of J. C. Penney  Company,  Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ending April 26, 2003 (the "Report"),  I,
Allen Questrom,  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer of the Company,  certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350,  as adopted  pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)  the Report fully complies with the  requirements  of section 13(a) or 15(d)
     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)  the information  contained in the Report fairly  presents,  in all material
     respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

DATED this 10th day of June 2003.

                                        /s/ Allen Questrom
                                      ------------------------
                                       Allen Questrom
                                       Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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                                                                 EXHIBIT 99(ii)


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In  connection  with the  Quarterly  Report of J. C. Penney  Company,  Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ending April 26, 2003 (the "Report"),  I,
Robert B. Cavanaugh, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company,  certify,  pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350, as adopted  pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)  the Report fully complies with the  requirements  of section 13(a) or 15(d)
     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)  the information  contained in the Report fairly  presents,  in all material
     respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

DATED this 10th day of June 2003.

                                                 /s/ Robert B. Cavanaugh
                                                 -------------------------
                                                  Robert B. Cavanaugh
                                                  Executive Vice President and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer