Internal Revenue Service
Revenue Ruling

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Rev. Rul. 2005-26
Rev. Rul. 2005-26, 2005-17 I.R.B. 957
                       Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.)
                                 Revenue Ruling
                     LIFO; PRICE INDEXES; DEPARTMENT STORES
                            Published: April 25, 2005

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

  LIFO; price indexes; department stores. The February 2005 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, February 28, 2005.

  LIFO; price indexes; department stores. The February 2005 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, February 28, 2005.

  The following Department Store Inventory Price Indexes for February 2005 were issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The indexes are accepted by the Internal Revenue Service, under s 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, February 28, 2005.

  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              Feb. 2004    Feb. 2005     Percent
                                                                      Change
                                                                     from Feb.
                                                                      2004 to
                                                                     Feb. 2005
                                                                       [FN1]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.          Piece Goods ....................... 469.3        479.3          2.1
2.          Domestics and Draperies ........... 536.5        533.5         -0.6
3.          Women's and Children's Shoes ...... 609.9        663.6          8.8
4.          Men's Shoes ....................... 850.4        852.2          0.2
5.          Infants' Wear ..................... 583.8        575.5         -1.4
6.          Women's Underwear ................. 506.7        527.1          4.0
7.          Women's Hosiery ................... 354.3        349.2         -1.4
8.          Women's and Girls'
              Accessories ..................... 556.6        592.0          6.4
9.          Women's Outerwear and Girls'
              Wear ............................ 341.9        346.8          1.4
10.         Men's Clothing .................... 534.0        550.9          3.2
11.         Men's Furnishings ................. 572.3        574.2          0.3
12.         Boys' Clothing and
              Furnishings ..................... 436.6        423.5         -3.0
13.         Jewelry ........................... 895.7        878.8         -1.9
14.         Notions ........................... 793.9        780.0         -1.8
15.         Toilet Articles and Drugs ......... 984.6        998.7          1.4
16.         Furniture and Bedding ............. 624.2        601.8         -3.6
17.         Floor Coverings ................... 592.6        602.4          1.7
18.         Housewares ........................ 715.2        713.8         -0.2
19.         Major Appliances .................. 206.8        203.7         -1.5
20.         Radio and Television ............... 43.3         39.7         -8.3
21.         Recreation and Education
              [FN2] ............................ 81.6         79.7         -2.3
22.         Home Improvements [FN2] ........... 128.9        136.1          5.6
23.         Automotive Accessories [FN2] ...... 112.1        113.9          1.6
Groups 1-15: Soft Goods ....................... 549.5        556.7          1.3
Groups 16-20: Durable Goods ................... 388.6        381.0         -2.0
Groups 21-23: Misc. Goods [FN2] ................ 93.9         93.8         -0.1
     Store Total [FN3] ........................ 491.9        494.3          0.5
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- 7924 (not a toll-free call).

 Rev. Rul. 2005-26, 2005-17 I.R.B. 957