UNITED STATES
                              SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                      Washington, D.C.  20549

                                             FORM 8-K


                                          CURRENT REPORT

                              PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                                  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)- May 13, 2003



                                 THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY
                   (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                   I-79               43-1104396
       (State or other           (Commission          (IRS Employer
       jurisdiction of           File Number)       Identification No.)
        incorporation)



       611 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri                 63101
     (Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip code)



                    Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                    (314) 342-6300
















Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)     Exhibits.  The following document is furnished as an Exhibit.



Exhibit No.  Exhibit

99.1         Press Release, dated May 13, 2003






Item 12.   Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On May 13, 2003, the registrant issued a press release announcing its
financial results for the 13 weeks ending May 3, 2003.  A copy of the
press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.




























SIGNATURE




Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                              THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY



Dated: May 13, 2003           By:    /s/ Richard A. Brickson
                              Richard A. Brickson
                              Secretary and Senior Counsel
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "earnings8k.txt", "description": "FORM 8K DATED MAY 13, 2003", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2041}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MAY DEPARTMENT STORES CO", "cik": "0000063416", "assigned-sic": "5311", "irs-number": "431104396", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0201"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-00079", "film-number": "03695921"}, "business-address": {"street1": "611 OLIVE ST", "city": "ST LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63101", "phone": "3143426300"}}
UNITED STATES
                              SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                      Washington, D.C.  20549

                                             FORM 8-K

                                          CURRENT REPORT

                              PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                                  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)- May 13, 2003

                                 THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY
                   (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                   I-79               43-1104396
       (State or other           (Commission          (IRS Employer
       jurisdiction of           File Number)       Identification No.)
        incorporation)

       611 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri                 63101
     (Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip code)

                    Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                    (314) 342-6300

Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)     Exhibits.  The following document is furnished as an Exhibit.

Exhibit No.  Exhibit

99.1         Press Release, dated May 13, 2003

Item 12.   Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On May 13, 2003, the registrant issued a press release announcing its
financial results for the 13 weeks ending May 3, 2003.  A copy of the
press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                              THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY

Dated: May 13, 2003           By:    /s/ Richard A. Brickson
                              Richard A. Brickson
                              Secretary and Senior Counsel