WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE. <ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. 10-Q for the second quarter ended September 9, 1995 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> QTR-2 <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-24-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-09-1995 <CASH> 132481 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 176481 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 823769 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1192161 <PP&E> 1547919 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2871040 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1119232 <BONDS> 700074 <COMMON> 38229 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 757747 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2871040 <SALES> 5476685 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 5476685 <CGS> 3897770 <TOTAL-COSTS> 3897770 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1502170 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 38352 <INCOME-PRETAX> 38393 <INCOME-TAX> 14459 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23934 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23934 <EPS-PRIMARY> .63 <EPS-DILUTED> .63