Common use of MERCHANDISE INVENTORIES Clause in Contracts

MERCHANDISE INVENTORIES. Merchandise inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market as determined primarily by the retail inventory method, and are stated using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for substantially all U.S. merchandise inventories. The Company believes the LIFO method more fairly presents the results of operations by more closely matching current costs with current revenues. If all merchandise inventories had been valued using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, inventories would have been higher by $16,150 at February 13, 2000 and $11,150 at August 29, 1999. The Company provides for estimated inventory losses between physical inventory counts on the basis of a standard percentage of sales. This provision is adjusted to reflect the actual shrinkage results of physical inventory counts, which generally occur in the second and fourth fiscal quarters. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE The Company's banking system provides for the daily replenishment of major bank accounts as checks are presented. Accordingly, included in Accounts Payable are $32,138 and $21,081 at February 13, 2000 and August 29, 1999, respectively, representing the excess of outstanding checks over cash on deposit at the banks on which the checks were drawn.

MERCHANDISE INVENTORIES. Merchandise inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market as determined primarily by the retail inventory method, and are stated using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for substantially all U.S. merchandise inventories. The Company believes the LIFO method more fairly presents the results of operations by more closely matching current costs with current revenues. If all merchandise inventories had been valued using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, inventories would have been higher by $16,150 18,650 at February 13May 7, 2000 and $11,150 at August 29, 1999. The Company provides for estimated inventory losses between physical inventory counts on the basis of a standard percentage of sales. This provision is adjusted to reflect the actual shrinkage results of physical inventory counts, which generally occur in the second and fourth fiscal quarters. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE The Company's banking system provides for the daily replenishment of major bank accounts as checks are presented. Accordingly, included in Accounts Payable are $32,138 and $21,081 at February 13May 7, 2000 and August 29, 19991999 are $38,722 and $21,081, respectively, representing the excess of outstanding checks over cash on deposit at the banks on which the checks were drawn.