<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as presented in Saks Incorporated's
Form 10-Q for the three and six month periods ended July 31, 1999 and August 1,
1998.
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands except Per Share Amounts)


                                                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-29-2000             JAN-30-1999             JAN-29-2000             JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1999             AUG-01-1998             JUL-31-1999             AUG-01-1998
<CASH>                                          22,683                  21,411                   2,683                  31,411
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  160,816                 137,418                 160,816                 137,418
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                  1,516,710               1,369,498               1,516,710               1,369,498
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,861,676               1,693,892               1,861,676               1,693,892
<PP&E>                                       2,224,033               1,822,735               2,224,033               1,822,735
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,972,750               4,157,139               4,972,750               4,157,139
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          803,819                 758,295                 803,819                 758,295
<BONDS>                                      1,946,928                 980,840               1,946,928                 980,840
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                        14,456                  14,314                  14,456                  14,314
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,047,328               1,985,525               2,047,328               1,985,525
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,972,750               4,157,139               4,972,750               4,157,139
<SALES>                                      1,426,535               1,283,744               2,971,056               2,696,346
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,426,535               1,283,744               2,971,056               2,696,346
<CGS>                                          912,609                 829,140               1,907,002               1,742,154
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  912,609                 829,140               1,907,002               1,742,154
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               451,182                 424,199                 909,827                 851,398
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              34,312                  24,498                  69,288                  49,292
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 31,256                   6,533                  87,759                  54,256
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,437                   3,551                  35,205                  23,150
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             18,819                   2,982                  52,554                  31,106
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                     334                   9,261                     334
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    18,819                   2,648                  43,293                  30,772
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .13                     .02                     .30                     .22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .13                     .02                     .29                     .21