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Rev. Rul. 2001-54, 2001-46 I.R.B. 490

LIFO; PRICE INDEXES; DEPARTMENT STORES

Published: November 13, 2001

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

  LIFO; price indexes; department stores. The September 2001 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, 2001.

  The following Department Store Inventory Price Indexes for September 2001 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, September 30, 2001.

  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                  Sep. 2000     Sep. 2001       Percent    
                                                                   Change from  
                                                                    Sep. 2000  
                                                                     to Sep.    
                                                                   2001 [FN1]  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1. Piece Goods ........................... 496.1         509.9            2.8
  2. Domestics and Draperies ............... 609.3         589.1           -3.3
  3. Women's and Children's Shoes .......... 660.6         668.9            1.3
  4. Men's Shoes ........................... 913.6         854.7           -6.4
  5. Infants' Wear ......................... 633.7         625.4           -1.3
  6. Women's Underwear ..................... 584.9         571.0           -2.4
  7. Women's Hosiery ....................... 342.9         356.7            4.0
  8. Women's and Girls' Accessories ........ 540.0         557.9            3.3
  9. Women's Outerwear and Girls'                                              
  Wear ..................................... 400.2         392.0           -2.0
 10. Men's Clothing ........................ 606.3         578.4           -4.6
 11. Men's Furnishings ..................... 624.8         603.1           -3.5
 12. Boys' Clothing and Furnishings ........ 481.7         477.1           -1.0
 13. Jewelry ............................... 933.7         899.0           -3.7
 14. Notions ............................... 788.0         795.0            0.9
 15. Toilet Articles and Drugs ............. 969.9         979.9            1.0
 16. Furniture and Bedding ................. 707.2         632.8          -10.5
 17. Floor Coverings ....................... 614.8         622.9            1.3
 18. Housewares ............................ 777.5         767.5           -1.3
 19. Major Appliances ...................... 230.6         227.0           -1.6
 20. Radio and Television ................... 58.3          52.9           -9.3
 21. Recreation and Education [FN2] ......... 92.3          89.3           -3.3
 22. Home Improvements [FN2] ............... 128.3         125.6           -2.1
 23. Auto Accessories [FN2] ................ 106.5         110.1            3.4
                                                                                
Groups 1 - 15: Soft Goods .................. 600.3         588.6           -1.9
                                                                                
Groups 16 - 20: Durable Goods .............. 438.9         421.2           -4.0
                                                                                
Groups 21 - 23: Misc. Goods [FN2] ........... 99.8          98.3           -1.5
                                                                                
   Store Total [FN3] ....................... 539.4         526.8           -2.3
FN1. Absence of a minus sign before the percentage change in this column        
  signifies a 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 Michael Burkom of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Income Tax and Accounting). For further information regarding this revenue ruling, contact Mr. Burkom at (202) 622- 4930 (not a toll-free call).

Rev. Rul. 2001-54, 2001-46 I.R.B. 490.