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Rev. Rul. 99-46, 1999-45 I.R.B. 557

 Code Sec. 472

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

LIFO; price indexes; department stores. The September 1999 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,September 30, 1999.

REV. RUL. 99-46

The following Department Store Inventory Price Indexes for September 1999 were issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The indexes 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, September 30, 1999.

The Department Store Inventory Price Indexes are prepared on a national basis and include (a) 23 major groups of departments, (b) three special combinations of the major groups soft goods, durable goods, and miscellaneous goods, and (c) a store total, which covers all departments, including some not listed separately, except for the following: candy, food, liquor, tobacco, and contract departments.

             BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, DEPARTMENT STORE
           INVENTORY PRICE INDEXES BY DEPARTMENT GROUPS
                                  (January 1941 = 100, unless otherwise noted)
                                                                      Percent
                                                                   Change from 
                                                             Sept.    Sept.   Sept. 1998 to
Groups                                                      1998     1999    Sept. 1999 [fn1]
  ------                                                      -----    -----   --------------
1. Piece Goods                                          542.3    543.6        0.2
2. Domestics and Draperies                        634.0    629.3       -0.7
3. Women's and Children's Shoes               664.9    645.4       -2.9
4. Men's Shoes                                          915.1    883.1       -3.5
5. Infants' Wear                                          621.4    633.6        2.0
6. Women's Underwear                             569.3    566.1       -0.6
7. Women's Hosiery                                   308.7    326.7        5.8
8. Women's and Girls' Accessories            545.7    536.2       -1.7
9. Women's Outerwear and Girls' Wear     419.3    408.9       -2.5
10. Men's Clothing                                     614.9    619.3        0.7
11. Men's Furnishings                                595.5    618.4        3.8
12. Boys' Clothing and Furnishings            511.6    498.5       -2.6
13. Jewelry                                               973.7    960.4       -1.4
14. Notions                                               754.8    767.0        1.6
15. Toilet Articles and Drugs                     939.8    982.5        4.5
16. Furniture and Bedding                         673.8    696.6        3.4
17. Floor Coverings                                  602.1    602.8        0.1
18. Housewares                                       807.8    796.1       -1.4
19. Major Appliances                              236.9    235.7       -0.5
20. Radio and Television                             71.0     64.6       -9.0
21. Recreation and Education [fn2]            103.2     96.4       -6.6
22. Home Improvements [fn2]                  129.9    127.8       -1.6
23. Auto Accessories [fn2]                       107.5    107.1       -0.4
Groups 1-15: Soft Goods                         605.4    605.2        0.0
Groups 16-20: Durable Goods                 458.1    450.6       -1.6
Groups 21-23: Misc. Goods [fn2]             107.6    102.7       -4.6
Store Total [fn3]                                       551.9    547.0       -0.9
----------
[fn1] Absence of a minus sign before percentage change in this column signifies price increase.
[fn2] Indexes on a January 1986 = 100 base.
[fn3] The store total index covers all departments, including some not listed separately, except for the following: candy, food, liquor, tobacco, and contract departments.

DRAFTING INFORMATION

The principal author of this revenue ruling is Richard C. Farley, Jr.of the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (Income Tax and Accounting). For further information regarding this revenue ruling, contact Mr. Farley on (202) 622-4970 (not a toll-free call).

Rev. Rul. 99-46, 1999-45 I.R.B. 557