<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000006207 <NAME> AMREP CORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S.DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> MAY-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 16,178 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 53,501 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 97,408 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 32,506 <DEPRECIATION> (13,532) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 205,311 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 55,426 <BONDS> 54,991 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 740 <OTHER-SE> 75,094 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 205,311 <SALES> 85,538 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 146,389 <CGS> 70,057 <TOTAL-COSTS> 120,658 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,050 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,720 <INCOME-TAX> (5,562) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,282 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,282 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.99 <EPS-DILUTED> 0