<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>  
  THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM GRACO INC.
  AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE
  SHEETS  FOR THE  52  WEEKS ENDED  DECEMBER  26, 1997 AND IS  QUALIFIED IN  ITS
  ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>                                      
<CIK>                                          0000042888
<NAME>                                         GRACO INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
         
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-26-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-26-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         13,523
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  86,148
<ALLOWANCES>                                   4,089
<INVENTORY>                                    43,942
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               156,292
<PP&E>                                         196,940
<DEPRECIATION>                                 96,760
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 264,532
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          68,980
<BONDS>                                        7,959
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       25,553
<OTHER-SE>                                     131,956
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   264,532
<SALES>                                        413,897
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               413,897
<CGS>                                          210,909
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  210,909
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               139,472
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               154
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             866
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                63,516
<INCOME-TAX>                                   18,800
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            44,716
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   44,716
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.71