<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 5, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-27-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-05-1998 <CASH> 138949 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 214169 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 946077 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1337430 <PP&E> 1690364 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3203706 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1050276 <BONDS> 910297 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 38287 <OTHER-SE> 886138 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3203706 <SALES> 7753035 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 7753035 <CGS> (5513730) <TOTAL-COSTS> (5513730) <OTHER-EXPENSES> (2168170) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (47839) <INCOME-PRETAX> 23296 <INCOME-TAX> (1910) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 21386 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21386 <EPS-PRIMARY> .56 <EPS-DILUTED> .56