<ARTICLE> 5                                                          EXHIBIT 27
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE EMERSON
ELECTRIC CO. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 FILED WITH THE COMPANY'S
1997 SECOND QUARTER FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                         284,200
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,311,400
<ALLOWANCES>                                    56,800
<INVENTORY>                                  1,824,100
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             4,698,900
<PP&E>                                       5,162,600
<DEPRECIATION>                               2,624,600
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,919,500
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        3,304,500
<BONDS>                                        783,800
<COMMON>                                       238,300
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                   5,179,300
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                10,919,500
<SALES>                                      5,934,100
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             5,934,100
<CGS>                                        3,792,800
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                3,792,800
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              57,300
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                851,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                   315,700
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   535,300
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1> EPS REFLECTS A TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT EFFECTIVE MARCH 10, 1997.  EPS FOR
     THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 WOULD HAVE BEEN .57 ASSUMING
     RETROACTIVE APPLICATION OF THE SPLIT.
</FN>