<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Cone
Mills Corporation Consolidated Financial Statements dated October 3, 1999,
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000023304
<NAME>                        CONE MILLS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                               1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. Dollars

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-02-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   OCT-03-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>               1
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<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  53,848
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<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   486,324
<SALES>                                        478,946
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<CGS>                                          438,684
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<LOSS-PROVISION>                               1,887
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             (9,666)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (22,443)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (7,775)
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<NET-INCOME>                                   (14,154)
<EPS-BASIC>                                    (.65)
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