<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC TEA COMPANY, INC. 10-Q FOR THE FIRST QUARTER ENDED JUNE 20, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-27-1999 <PERIOD-END> JUN-20-1998 <CASH> 140350 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 217635 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 881606 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1271486 <PP&E> 1620422 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3073889 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1017297 <BONDS> 818150 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 38253 <OTHER-SE> 897822 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3073889 <SALES> 3078386 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3078386 <CGS> (2192073) <TOTAL-COSTS> (2192073) <OTHER-EXPENSES> (842082) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (18954) <INCOME-PRETAX> 25277 <INCOME-TAX> (6108) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19169 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19169 <EPS-PRIMARY> .50 <EPS-DILUTED> .50