<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 THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, FILED WITH THE
COMPANY'S 1999 FIRST QUARTER FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                         321,700
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,452,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                    55,900
<INVENTORY>                                  1,998,400
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             5,090,700
<PP&E>                                       6,212,700
<DEPRECIATION>                               3,158,800
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              13,161,600
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        4,299,500
<BONDS>                                      1,243,300
<COMMON>                                       238,300
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                   5,733,600
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                13,161,600
<SALES>                                      3,426,700
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,426,700
<CGS>                                        2,211,600
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,211,600
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              44,900
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                472,400
<INCOME-TAX>                                   170,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   302,400
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .69