<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains summary financial  infromation  extracted from Cone
Mills Corporation Consolidated Financial Statements dated March 29, 1998, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-29-1998
<CASH>                                         525
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  66,449
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,500
<INVENTORY>                                    122,287
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               206,674
<PP&E>                                         458,467
<DEPRECIATION>                                 208,450
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 532,568
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          124,077
<BONDS>                                        161,767
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    38,395
<COMMON>                                       2,617
<OTHER-SE>                                     153,863
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   532,568
<SALES>                                        190,171
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               190,171
<CGS>                                          167,020
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  167,020
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,936
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                436
<INCOME-TAX>                                   144
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            1,544
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   1,544
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .03