<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN FORM 10-K FOR DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000029924 <NAME> DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 6,769 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 329,439 <ALLOWANCES> 16,234 <INVENTORY> 10,840 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 403,685 <PP&E> 2,219,490 <DEPRECIATION> 1,480,090 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,759,631 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 601,205 <BONDS> 332,300 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 102,181 <OTHER-SE> 1,541,812 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,759,631 <SALES> 2,481,592 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,481,592 <CGS> 1,313,342 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,313,342 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,755 <INCOME-PRETAX> 331,260 <INCOME-TAX> 147,728 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 189,969 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 189,969 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.96 <EPS-DILUTED> 0