SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-k

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

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 10, 2002




                           J. C. Penney Company, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




        Delaware                       1-15274                    26-0037077
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File No.)         (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation )                                      Identification No.)

6501 Legacy Drive
Plano, Texas                                                         75024-3698

(Address of principal executive offices)                             (Zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (972) 431-1000





Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure

     On July 10, 2002,  the Florida  Attorney  General's  Office  announced  the
resolution of its privacy  investigation  regarding Eckerd Corporation's patient
information  programs.  Without admitting any wrongdoing,  Eckerd agreed to make
changes to its customer  authorization  procedures in connection with certain of
its patient information  programs,  and a $1 million donation to the Florida A&M
University School of Pharmacy to create an endowed chair faculty position.

     Separately,  the Florida Attorney General's Office has informed Eckerd that
it has  closed  its  investigation  into  Eckerd's  handling  of metric  decimal
quantity prescriptions without taking any action against Eckerd.






SIGNATURES

     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.

                                                    J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, Inc.
                                                           (Registrant)

                                                    /s/ Charles R. Lotter
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                    Charles R. Lotter
                                                    Executive Vice President,
                                                    Secretary andGeneral Counsel


Date:  July 11, 2002