<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000049728 <NAME> IEC ELECTRONICS CORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 3,921 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 49,045 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 45,360 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 100,324 <PP&E> 70,651 <DEPRECIATION> 31,637 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 152,070 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 65,702 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 75 <OTHER-SE> 75,386 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 152,070 <SALES> 260,686 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 261,158 <CGS> 232,592 <TOTAL-COSTS> 15,773 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,586 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,207 <INCOME-TAX> 4,249 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,958 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,958 <EPS-PRIMARY> .91 <EPS-DILUTED> .91