VENATOR CITES WEAK FOOTWEAR MARKET IN REPORTING LOSSES

          The Venator Group, the parent company to Foot Locker,
     Lady Foot Locker and Champs Sports, posted a "wider-than-
     expected loss" for its '98 third quarter, "largely because
     of weak footwear and athletic-apparel sales," according to
     the WALL STREET JOURNAL.  Venator reported a net loss of
     $155M, or $1.14 a share, compared with a net income of $55M,
     or $.40 per share, a year earlier.  Venator said third
     quarter sales increased 1.4% to $1.12B, while sales at
     stores open at least a year dropped 5.3% (WALL STREET
     JOURNAL, 11/20).  Venator's operating loss "excludes a
     charge" of $115M from closing Kinney and Footquarters stores
     and the sale of its Woolworth stores (N.Y. TIMES, 11/20).