<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 7, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-22-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-7-1996 <CASH> 117999 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 200288 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 832240 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1201411 <PP&E> 1565725 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2924221 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1006334 <BONDS> 787798 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 38220 <OTHER-SE> 817433 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2924221 <SALES> 5422541 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 5422541 <CGS> 3863406 <TOTAL-COSTS> 3863406 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1471839 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 36247 <INCOME-PRETAX> 51049 <INCOME-TAX> 15176 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 35873 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 35873 <EPS-PRIMARY> .94 <EPS-DILUTED> .94