<ARTICLE> 5
     <LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
     OF J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF MAY 1, 1999, AND
     IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
     
     
     <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000

                                  
     <PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
     <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-29-2000
     <PERIOD-END>                               MAY-01-1999
     <CASH>                                             168
     <SECURITIES>                                       250
     <RECEIVABLES>                                    4,268
     <ALLOWANCES>                                       103
     <INVENTORY>                                      6,078
     <CURRENT-ASSETS>                                10,841
     <PP&E>                                           8,351
     <DEPRECIATION>                                   2,889
     <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  23,658
     <CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            5,924
     <BONDS>                                          6,821
     <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
     <PREFERRED>                                        464
     <COMMON>                                         3,219
     <OTHER-SE>                                       3,799
     <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    23,658
     <SALES>                                          7,258
     <TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 7,532
     <CGS>                                            5,292
     <TOTAL-COSTS>                                    6,984
     <OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   117
     <LOSS-PROVISION>                                    13
     <INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 151
     <INCOME-PRETAX>                                    267
     <INCOME-TAX>                                       100
     <INCOME-CONTINUING>                                167
     <DISCONTINUED>                                       0
     <EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
     <CHANGES>                                            0
     <NET-INCOME>                                       167
     <EPS-BASIC>                                     0.62
     <EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.61