Rev. Rul. 99-9, 1999-7 I.R.B. 14

                       Internal Revenue Service
                                 Revenue Ruling

                     LIFO; PRICE INDEXES; DEPARTMENT STORES

                          Published: February 16, 1999

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

Section 832. - Insurance Company Taxable Income, 26 CFR 1.832-4: Gross income.

Section 846. - Discounted Unpaid Losses Defined, 26 CFR 1.846-1: Application of discount factors.

26 CFR 1.846-1: Application of discount factors.

Section 6311. - Payment of Tax by Commercially Acceptable Means, 26 CFR 301.6311-2T: Payment by credit card and debit card (temporary).

  LIFO; price indexes; department stores. The December 1998 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, December 31, 1998.

  The salvage discount factors are set forth for the 1998 accident year. These factors will be used for computing estimated salvage recoverable for purposes of section 832 of the Code.

  The loss payment patterns and discount factors are set forth for the 1998 accident year. These factors will be used for computing discounted unpaid losses under section 846 of the Code.

  The following Department Store Inventory Price Indexes for December 1998 were issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The indexes are accepted by the Internal Revenue Service, under § 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, December 31, 1998.

  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)

                       Groups              Dec 1997     Dec 1998      Percent
                                                                      Change
                                                                       from
                                                                     Dec.1997
                                                                      to Dec
                                                                       1998
                                                                       [FN1]


        1.  Piece Goods                         522.7        546.8          4.6
        2.  Domestics and Draperies             620.8        631.2          1.7
        3.  Women's and Children's Shoes        661.6        660.9         -0.1
        4.  Men's Shoes                         894.5        905.3          1.2
        5.  Infants' Wear                       620.2        628.7          1.4
        6.  Women's Underwear                   548.7        559.6          2.0
        7.  Women's Hosiery                     297.0        304.1          2.4
        8.  Women's and Girls'                  541.1        536.4         -0.9
              Accessories
        9.  Women's Outerwear and Girls'        406.4        401.0         -1.3
              Wear
       10.  Men's Clothing                      606.0        603.3         -0.4
       11.  Men's Furnishings                   598.6        591.9         -1.1
       12.  Boys' Clothing and                  505.4        493.7         -2.3
              Furnishings
       13.  Jewelry                             948.3        953.0          0.5
       14.  Notions                             797.8        771.9         -3.2
       15.  Toilet Articles and Drugs           922.4        939.4          1.8
       16.  Furniture and Bedding               662.6        691.1          4.3
       17.  Floor Coverings                     581.1        602.5          3.7
       18.  Housewares                          806.6        806.5          0.0
       19.  Major Appliances                    241.7        236.0         -2.4
       20.  Radio and Television                 73.9         69.6         -5.8
       21.  Recreation and Education            108.6        101.6         -6.4
              [FN2]
       22.  Home Improvements [FN2]             133.4        130.6         -2.1
       23.  Auto Accessories [FN2]              108.0        107.7         -0.3
Groups 1 - 15: Soft Goods                       594.5        595.0          0.1
Groups 16 - 20: Durable Goods                   460.9        458.0         -0.6
Groups 21 - 23: Misc. Goods [FN2]               111.7        106.6         -4.6
  Store Total [FN3]                             548.2        544.8         -0.6

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. 99-9, 1999-7 I.R.B. 14.