Rev. Rul. 89-83

1989-1 C.B. 166, 1989-26 I.R.B. 16.

                       Internal Revenue Service

                                 Revenue Ruling

                     LIFO; PRICE INDEXES; DEPARTMENT STORES

                            Published: June 26, 1989

Section 472. - Last-in, First-out Inventories, 26 CFR 1.472-1; Last-in, first- out inventories.

  LIFO; price indexes; department stores. The March 1989 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 March 31, 1989.

  The following price indexes for March 1989 were issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on April 20, 1989, 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 March 31, 1989.

  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
                                     March    March    March 1988 to
               Groups                 1988     1989    March 1989 [FN1]
___________________________________________________________________
1. Piece Goods                      409.7    452.2        3.8
2. Domestics and Draperies          594.7    608.4        2.3
3. Women's and Children's Shoes     554.3    586.2        5.8
4. Men's Shoes                      782.7    822.6        5.1
5. Infants' Wear                    545.6    562.9        3.2
6. Women's Underwear                446.7    471.4        5.5
7. Women's Hosiery [FN2]            242.4    242.1       -0.1
8. Women's and Girls' Accessories   486.0    515.1        6.0
9. Women's Outerwear and Girls'
    Wear                             387.4    394.7        1.9
10. Men's Clothing                   509.1    537.3        5.5
11. Men's Furnishings                508.9    528.5        3.9
12. Boys' Clothing and Furnishings   437.1    441.5        1.0
13. Jewelry                          756.2    789.7        4.4
14. Notions                          495.0    523.7        5.8
15. Toilet Articles and Drugs        696.5    730.2        4.8
16. Furniture and Bedding            576.9    574.5       -0.4
17. Floor Coverings                  495.8    486.8       -1.8
18. Housewares                       732.0    722.6       -1.3
19. Major Appliances                 243.5    245.2        0.7
20. Radio and Television              95.6     93.2       -2.5
21. Recreation and Education [FN3]   104.4    107.8        3.3
22. Home Improvements [FN3]          103.2    108.4        5.0
23. Auto Accessories [FN3]           102.0    103.4        1.4
Groups  1 - 15: Soft Goods           517.0    535.3        3.5
Groups 16 - 20: Durable Goods        450.6    445.7       -1.1
Groups 21 - 23: Misc. Goods [FN3]    103.7    107.0        3.2
     Store Total                     494.6    506.2        2.3
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. 89-83, 1989-1 C.B. 166, 1989-26 I.R.B. 16.