<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial  information  extracted from Graco
     Inc. and subsidiaries  consolidated balance sheets for the quarterly period
     ending March 31, 2000 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
     statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000042888
<NAME>                        Graco Inc
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-29-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         2,834
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  92,711
<ALLOWANCES>                                   4,700
<INVENTORY>                                    41,640
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               146,087
<PP&E>                                         187,764
<DEPRECIATION>                                 99,068
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 242,664
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          79,614
<BONDS>                                        69,645
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       20,293
<OTHER-SE>                                     45,386
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   242,664
<SALES>                                        120,227
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               120,227
<CGS>                                          58,098
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  58,098
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               39,154
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               124
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             1,235
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                22,975
<INCOME-TAX>                                   8,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            14,975
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   14,975
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0.73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.72