CINCINNATI — Federated Department Stores Inc. said yesterday that it will close a computer data center in St. Louis and reduce operations at a center in Lorain, Ohio, eliminating 290 positions.

Most of the 195 employees in St. Louis will have the option of moving to Federated's systems operation in Duluth, Ga., spokesman Jim Sluzewski said.

At Lorain, 95 jobs will be eliminated as most computer operations and the help desk are closed. Some 125 systems development group employees will remain in Lorain.

Federated has more than 850 department stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the names of Macy's and Bloomingdale's.