RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Published on December 20, 1999



EXHIBIT 12

EMERSON ELECTRIC CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(Dollars in millions)




YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

Earnings:
Income before income taxes $ 1,457.2 1,611.3 1,821.7 2,002.3 2,064.0
Fixed charges 168.4 182.2 176.5 218.2 258.1
------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
Earnings, as defined $ 1,625.6 1,793.5 1,998.2 2,220.5 2,322.1
============= ============ ========== ============ ============
Fixed charges:
Interest expense $ 123.0 132.3 124.2 161.4 199.0
One-third of all rents 45.4 49.9 52.3 56.8 59.1
------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------
Total fixed charges $ 168.4 182.2 176.5 218.2 258.1
============= ============ ========== ============ ============

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 9.7x 9.8x 11.3x 10.2x 9.0x
============= ============ ========== ============ ============



Represents income before income taxes, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, and minority
interests in the income of consolidated subsidiaries with fixed charges.


Includes non-recurring items of $34.3 million in 1995. Excluding these items, the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges would have been 9.4x in 1995.