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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 3 Months Ended
Apr. 28, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Macy's, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") is an omnichannel retail organization operating stores and websites under two brands (Macy's and Bloomingdale's) that sell a wide range of merchandise, including apparel and accessories (men's, women's and children's), cosmetics, home furnishings and other consumer goods. The Company's operations include approximately 850 stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as macys.com and bloomingdales.com.
A description of the Company's significant accounting policies is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (the "2011 10-K"). The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto in the 2011 10-K.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates and assumptions are subject to inherent uncertainties, which may result in actual amounts differing from reported amounts.
The Consolidated Financial Statements for the 13 weeks ended April 28, 2012 and April 30, 2011, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Company.
Because of the seasonal nature of the retail business, the results of operations for the 13 weeks ended April 28, 2012 and April 30, 2011 (which do not include the Christmas season) are not necessarily indicative of such results for the full fiscal year.
Certain reclassifications were made to prior years' amounts to conform with the classifications of such amounts for the most recent year.
The Company records income from credit operations as a reduction of Selling, General and Administrative expenses. Income from credit operations was $143 million and $100 million for the 13 weeks ended April 28, 2012 and April 30, 2011, respectively, which resulted primarily from improvement in actual and expected collection rates.
In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2011-04, which amends Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures," to result in common fair value measurements and disclosures between accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and International Financial Reporting Standards. The amendments explain how to measure fair value. They do not require additional fair value measurements and are not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside of financial reporting. The amendments change the wording used to describe fair value measurement requirements and disclosures, but often do not result in a change in the application of current guidance. Certain amendments clarify the intent about the application of existing fair value measurement requirements, while certain other amendments change a principle or requirement for fair value measurement or disclosure. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 29, 2012, and adoption did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2011-05, which amends ASC Topic 220, "Comprehensive Income," to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by eliminating the option of presenting components of comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders' equity. The updated guidance requires that all nonowner changes in shareholders' equity be presented either as a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-12, which defers the requirement to present on the face of the financial statements items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income, while the FASB further deliberates this aspect of the proposal. The guidance is limited to the form and content of the financial statements and disclosures. The Company adopted this guidance, as amended, as of January 29, 2012, and adoption did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-08, which amends ASC Topic 350, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other." The guidance amends the impairment test for goodwill by allowing companies to first assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount and whether it is necessary to perform the current two-step goodwill impairment test. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 29, 2012, and adoption is not expected to have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-11, which amends ASC Subtopic 210-20, "Offsetting." The guidance requires enhanced disclosures with improved information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either (i) offset in accordance with current guidance or (ii) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset in accordance with current guidance. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after January 1, 2013. The guidance is limited to the form and content of disclosures, and the Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this guidance will have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.