<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000029534
<NAME> DOLLAR GENERAL CORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-29-1999             JAN-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-01-1998             MAY-02-1997
<CASH>                                           37241                   33388
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                     692658                  540956
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 20449                   18669
<PP&E>                                          415974                  315645
<DEPRECIATION>                                  162692                  121885
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1016504                  796007
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           397777                  267001
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                        858                     858
<COMMON>                                         83719                   53672
<OTHER-SE>                                      512075                  464822
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1016504                  796007
<SALES>                                         705260                  520014
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                705260                  520014
<CGS>                                           514928                  378159
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   140940                  110335
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 939                     526
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  48453                   30994
<INCOME-TAX>                                     18049                   11700
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              30404                   19294
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     30404                   19294
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.21                    0.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.18                    0.11