Rev. Rul. 89-28

1989-1 C.B. 162, 1989-9 I.R.B. 8.

                       Internal Revenue Service

                                 Revenue Ruling

                     LIFO; PRICE INDEXES; DEPARTMENT STORES

                          Published: February 27, 1989

26 CFR 1.472-1: Last-in, first-out inventories.

  LIFO; price indexes; department stores. The November 1988 Bureau of Labor Statistics price indexes are accepted for use by department stores employing the retail inventory and last-in, first-out inventory methods for valuing inventories for tax years ended on, or with reference to, November 30, 1988.

  The following price indexes for November 1988 were issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on December 22, 1988, for use by department stores, and are accepted by the Internal Revenue Service, under section 1.472-1(k) of the Income Tax Regulations and Rev. Proc. 86-46, 1986-2 C.B. 739, for appropriate application to inventories of department stores employing the retail inventory and last-in, first-out inventory methods for tax years ended on, or with reference to, November 30, 1988.

  Indexes are prepared on a national basis for the store total, for 23 major groups of departments, and for three special combinations -- soft goods, durable goods and miscellaneous goods. The store total index covers all departments, including some not listed separately, with the following exceptions: candy, foods, liquor, tobacco, as well as contract departments.

    BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, DEPARTMENT STORE INVENTORY PRICE INDEXES BY
                               DEPARTMENT GROUPS
                  (January 1941 = 100 unless otherwise noted
                                                                        Percent
                                                                         Change
                                                                           from
                                                                       November
                                             November     November      1987 to
                                                                       November
                       Groups                    1987         1988   1988 [FN1]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        1.  Piece Goods ....................... 392.3        417.0          6.3
        2.  Domestics and Draperies ........... 572.4        595.9          4.1
        3.  Women's and Children's Shoes ...... 562.7        590.5          4.9
        4.  Men's Shoes ....................... 769.1        828.2          7.7
        5.  Infants' Wear ..................... 553.4        558.4          0.9
        6.  Women's Underwear ................. 448.6        476.2          6.2
        7.  Women's Hosiery [FN2] ............. 238.3        243.6          2.3
        8.  Women's and Girls'
              Accessories ..................... 489.0        504.7          3.1
        9.  Women's Outerwear and Girls'
              Wear ............................ 394.0        401.0          1.8
       10.  Men's Clothing .................... 512.2        541.4          5.7
       11.  Men's Furnishings ................. 506.6        528.8          4.4
       12.  Boys' Clothing and
              Furnishings ..................... 453.7        473.7          4.4
       13.  Jewelry ........................... 737.0        780.1          5.8
       14.  Notions ........................... 493.5        511.3          3.6
       15.  Toilet Articles and Drugs ......... 684.7        718.3          4.9
       16.  Furniture and Bedding ............. 566.8        591.2          4.3
       17.  Floor Coverings ................... 480.2        500.7          4.3
       18.  Housewares ........................ 731.4        734.5          0.4
       19.  Major Appliances .................. 243.8        251.6          3.2
       20.  Radio and Television ............... 96.2         93.8         -2.5
       21.  Recreation and Education
              [FN3] ........................... 103.7        107.9          4.1
       22.  Home Improvements [FN3] ........... 104.4        105.1          0.7
       23.  Auto Accessories [FN3] ............ 101.1        102.9          1.8
Groups 1 - 15: Soft Goods ..................... 516.1        536.4          3.9
Groups 16 - 20: Durable Goods ................. 449.0        454.2          1.2
Groups 21 - 23: Misc. Goods [FN3] ............. 103.3        106.4          3.0
            Store Total ....................... 493.3        508.5          3.1
FN1. Absence of a minus sign before percentage change in this column signifies
  price increase.
FN2. Title reflects change in item sampling structure made during 1978 CPI
  Revision whereby Girls' Hosiery was included in Group 8, Women's and Girl's
  Accessories, not Group 7.
FN3. Indexes on a January 1986 = 100 base

DRAFTING INFORMATION

  The principal author of this revenue ruling is Kevin M. Curran of the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (Income Tax and Accounting). For further information regarding this revenue ruling contact Mr. Curran on (202) 566-3024 (not a toll-free call).

Rev. Rul. 89-28, 1989-1 C.B. 162, 1989-9 I.R.B. 8.