CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Aug. 12, 2017	Aug. 13, 2016	Aug. 12, 2017	Aug. 13, 2016
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Sales	$ 27,597	$ 26,565	$ 63,882	$ 61,169
Merchandise costs, including advertising, warehousing, and transportation, excluding items shown separately below	21,609	20,697	49,890	47,366
Operating, general and administrative	4,523	4,473	10,897	10,252
Rent	225	205	496	467
Depreciation and amortization	562	525	1,299	1,219
Operating profit	678	665	1,300	1,865
Interest expense	138	116	315	271
Earnings before income tax expense	540	549	985	1,594
Income tax expense	189	171	337	521
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests	351	378	648	1,073
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2)	(5)	(8)	(6)
Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co.	$ 353	$ 383	$ 656	$ 1,079
Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per basic common share	$ 0.39	$ 0.40	$ 0.72	$ 1.13
Average number of common shares used in basic calculation	897	943	907	949
Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per diluted common share	$ 0.39	$ 0.40	$ 0.71	$ 1.11
Average number of common shares used in diluted calculation	905	959	917	966
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.125	$ 0.120	$ 0.245	$ 0.225

The aggregate total of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line, excluding rental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses.

No definition available.