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<CAPTION>                                                             Exhibit 11
                                   THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY
                                 COMPUTATION OF NET EARNINGS PER SHARE

                                                        13 Weeks Ended           39 Weeks Ended    
                                                     Nov. 1,      Nov. 2,      Nov. 1,     Nov. 2,
                                                      1997         1996         1997        1996   
(millions, except per share)

<S>                                                <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>             
Net earnings from continuing operations            $       120  $       118  $      334  $      326
ESOP Preferred Dividends, net of tax
  benefit on unallocated shares                             (5)          (5)        (14)        (14)
Preferred Dividend requirements                              -            -           -           -

Net earnings available for 
  common shareowners:
     Continuing operations                                 115          113         320         312
     Discontinued operation                                  -            -           -          11
     Extraordinary loss                                      -            -          (4)          -
Total net earnings available for
  common shareowners                               $       115  $       113  $      316  $      323
     
Average common shares outstanding                        231.3        248.6       232.7       249.2

Net earnings per share:
     Continuing operations                         $      0.50  $      0.46  $     1.37  $     1.25
     Discontinued operation                                  -            -           -        0.05
     Extraordinary loss                                      -            -       (0.01)          -
Total net earnings per share                       $      0.50  $      0.46  $     1.36  $     1.30

Primary Computation

Net earnings available from
  continuing operations                            $       115  $       113  $      320  $      312
Deferred comp. dividend adjustment                           1            -           1           1

Adjusted net earnings available:
     Continuing operations                         $       116  $       113  $      321  $      313
     Discontinued operation                                  -            -           -          11
     Extraordinary loss                                      -            -          (4)          -
Total adjusted net earnings available              $       116  $       113  $      317  $      324

Average common shares outstanding                        231.3        248.6       232.7       249.2
Common share equivalents (CSE's)                           1.8          1.5         1.4         1.6

Average common stock and CSE's                           233.1        250.1       234.1       250.8

Primary earnings per share:
     Continuing operations                         $      0.50  $      0.45  $     1.37  $     1.25
     Discontinued operation                                  -            -           -        0.05
     Extraordinary loss                                      -            -       (0.01)          -
Total Primary Earnings per share                   $      0.50  $      0.45  $     1.36  $     1.30

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<CAPTION>                                                             Exhibit 11
                                   THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY
                                 COMPUTATION OF NET EARNINGS PER SHARE

                                                        13 Weeks Ended           39 Weeks Ended    
                                                     Nov. 1,      Nov. 2,      Nov. 1,     Nov. 2,
                                                      1997         1996         1997        1996   
(millions, except per share)

<S>                                                <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>
Fully Diluted Computation:

Adjusted net earnings available from 
  continuing operations-PRIMARY                    $       116  $       113  $      321  $      313
Earnings impact of assumed conversion 
  of ESOP Preference Shares, net of tax 
  benefit on unallocated common shares                       3            3          10           9

Adjusted net earnings available-
  FULLY DILUTED:
     Continuing operations                                 119          116         331         322
     Discontinued operation                                  -            -           -          11
     Extraordinary loss                                      -            -          (4)          -
Total adjusted net earnings available-
  FULLY DILUTED:                                   $       119  $       116  $      327  $      333

Average common shares and CSE's                          233.1        250.1       234.1       250.8
Additional CSE's attributable to
  treasury stock method                                      -           .2          .5          .1
ESOP Preference Shares                                    15.2         14.2        15.3        14.4

Average Common Shares Outstanding on
  fully diluted basis                                    248.3        264.5       249.9       265.3

Fully Diluted earnings per share:
     Continuing operations                         $      0.48  $      0.44  $     1.32  $     1.21
     Discontinued operation                                  -            -           -        0.04
     Extraordinary loss                                      -            -       (0.01)          -
Total Fully Diluted Earnings per share             $      0.48  $      0.44  $     1.31  $     1.25

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