<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA COMPANY, INC. 10-Q FOR THE 40 WEEK PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 4, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-26-2000 <PERIOD-END> DEC-04-1999 <CASH> 105984 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 224116 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 861170 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1264303 <PP&E> 1839926 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3324054 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1194093 <BONDS> 951298 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 38367 <OTHER-SE> 799080 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3324054 <SALES> 7730230 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 7730230 <CGS> 5521052 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5521052 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2136436 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (62612) <INCOME-PRETAX> 14738 <INCOME-TAX> (7552) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7186 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7186 <EPS-BASIC> .19 <EPS-DILUTED> .19