<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000022701 <NAME> COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 19,680,673 <SECURITIES> 23,850 <RECEIVABLES> 13,242,119 <ALLOWANCES> 844,000 <INVENTORY> 20,491,809 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 53,891,810 <PP&E> 28,780,692 <DEPRECIATION> 18,126,829 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 74,895,219 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 9,645,472 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 448,459 <OTHER-SE> 64,801,288 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 74,895,219 <SALES> 34,455,837 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 34,455,837 <CGS> 23,861,597 <TOTAL-COSTS> 23,861,597 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,593,711 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,525 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,786,238 <INCOME-TAX> 1,150,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,636,238 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,636,238 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.50 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.50