<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as presented in Saks Incorporated
Form 10-Q for the quarterly and six month periods ended July 29, 2000 and July
31, 1999.


                                                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           FEB-3-2001<F1>             JAN-29-2000              FEB-3-2001
             JAN-29-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-29-2000             JUL-31-1999             JUL-29-2000             JUL-31-2000
<CASH>                                      54,707,000              22,683,000              54,707,000              22,683,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                              193,749,000             160,816,000             193,749,000             160,816,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                              1,495,728,000           1,516,710,000           1,495,728,000           1,516,710,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         1,885,381,000           1,861,676,000           1,885,381,000           1,861,676,000
<PP&E>                                   2,398,892,000           2,217,974,000           2,398,892,000           2,217,974,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           5,125,045,000           4,972,750,000           5,125,045,000           4,972,750,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      772,126,000             803,819,000             772,126,000             803,819,000
<BONDS>                                  1,996,241,000           1,946,928,000           1,996,241,000           1,946,928,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                    14,116,000              14,456,000              14,116,000              14,456,000
<OTHER-SE>                               2,202,634,000           2,047,328,000           2,202,634,000           2,047,328,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             5,125,045,000           4,972,750,000           5,125,045,000           4,972,750,000
<SALES>                                  1,386,827,000           1,378,486,000           2,884,725,000           2,839,313,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         1,386,827,000           1,378,486,000           2,884,725,000           2,839,313,000
<CGS>                                      891,733,000             864,560,000           1,838,538,000           1,775,259,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0                       0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           475,562,000             448,358,000             935,180,000             907,007,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          35,510,000              34,312,000              72,383,000              69,288,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           (15,978,000)              31,256,000              38,624,000              87,759,000
<INCOME-TAX>                              (10,191,000)              12,437,000              10,556,000              35,205,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (5,787,000)              18,819,000              28,068,000              52,554,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0             (9,261,000)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                               (5,787,000)              18,819,000              28,068,000              43,293,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.04)                    0.13                    0.20                    0.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.04)                    0.13                    0.20                    0.29