<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000049728 <NAME> IEC ELECTRONICS CORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 4,007 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 23,734 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 30,728 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 61,951 <PP&E> 85,609 <DEPRECIATION> 63,831 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 93,919 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 28,527 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 76 <OTHER-SE> 48,769 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 93,919 <SALES> 157,488 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 157,507 <CGS> 163,254 <TOTAL-COSTS> 16,285 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,124 <INCOME-PRETAX> (23,156) <INCOME-TAX> (2,591) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (20,565) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (20,565) <EPS-BASIC> (2.72) <EPS-DILUTED> (2.72)