Management's Report


The financial statements, financial analyses and all other information were prepared by management, which is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. Management believes the financial statements, which require the use of certain estimates and judgments, fairly and accurately reflect the financial position and operating results of Sears, Roebuck and Co. ("the Company") in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. All financial information is consistent with the financial statements.

Management maintains a system of internal controls that it believes provides reasonable assurance that, in all material respects, assets are maintained and accounted for in accordance with management's authorizations and transactions are recorded accurately in the books and records. The concept of reasonable assurance is based on the premise that the cost of internal controls should not exceed the benefits derived. To assure the effectiveness of the internal control system, the organizational structure provides for defined lines of responsibility and delegation of authority. The Company's formally stated and communicated policies demand of employees high ethical standards in their conduct of its business. These policies address, among other things, potential conflicts of interest; compliance with all domestic and foreign laws, including those related to financial disclosure; and the confidentiality of proprietary information. As a further enhancement of the above, the Company's comprehensive internal audit program is designed for continual evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of its internal controls and measures adherence to established policies and procedures.

Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent certified public accountants, have audited the financial statements of the Company, and their report is presented below. Their audit also includes a study and evaluation of the Company's control environment, accounting systems and control procedures to the extent necessary to conclude that the financial statements present fairly the Company's financial position and results of operations. The independent accountants and internal auditors advise management of the results of their audits, and make recommendations to improve the system of internal controls. Management evaluates the audit recommendations and takes appropriate action.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is comprised entirely of directors who are not employees of the Company. The committee reviews audit plans, internal control reports, financial reports and related matters and meets regularly with the Company's management, internal auditors and independent accountants. The independent accountants and the internal auditors advise the committee of any significant matters resulting from their audits and have free access to the committee without management being present.


Arthur C. Martinez
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


Alan J. Lacy
Chief Financial Officer


Jeffrey N. Boyer
Vice President and Controller



Independent Auditors' Report

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors Sears, Roebuck and Co.
We have audited the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets of Sears, Roebuck and Co. as of January 2, 1999 and January 3, 1998 and the related Consolidated Statements of Income, Shareholders' Equity, and Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 2, 1999. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Sears, Roebuck and Co. as of January 2, 1999 and January 3, 1998 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 2, 1999 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 1997 the Company changed its method of accounting for sales of securitized accounts receivable as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 125, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities."


Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 11, 1999 except for paragraphs 1 and 3 of Note 10, as to which the date is March 10, 1999



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