<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000049728 <NAME> IEC ELECTRONICS CORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 2,278 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 22,842 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 20,072 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 50,819 <PP&E> 70,651 <DEPRECIATION> 31,637 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 98,665 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 19,055 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 76 <OTHER-SE> 69,492 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 98,665 <SALES> 248,159 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 248,442 <CGS> 234,519 <TOTAL-COSTS> 21,194 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,768 <INCOME-PRETAX> (9,039) <INCOME-TAX> (2,879) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (6,160) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (6,160) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.82) <EPS-DILUTED> (.82)