
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from 
Dayton Hudson Corporation's Form 10-Q for the nine-month period ended 
October 29, 1994 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-28-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-30-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-29-1994
<CASH>                                             173
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    1,593
<ALLOWANCES>                                        42
<INVENTORY>                                      3,681
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 5,550
<PP&E>                                           8,938
<DEPRECIATION>                                   2,614
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  12,208
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            3,971
<BONDS>                                          4,712
<COMMON>                                            72
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              363
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                       2,719
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    12,208
<SALES>                                         14,106
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                14,313
<CGS>                                           10,467
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   10,467
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 3,206
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    67
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 319
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    254
<INCOME-TAX>                                        99
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                155
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       155
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.96
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.90
        


</TABLE>
