<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PITNEY BOWES INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME, CORRESPONDING FOOTNOTE #3 FIXED ASSETS AND STATEMENT RE COMPUTATION OF PER SHARE EARNINGS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 134,032 <SECURITIES> 1,327 <RECEIVABLES> 366,720 <ALLOWANCES> 13,934 <INVENTORY> 275,374 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,233,198 <PP&E> 1,095,719 <DEPRECIATION> 601,178 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,983,258 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 3,233,697 <BONDS> 1,300,221 <COMMON> 323,338 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 200,000 <PREFERRED> 2,461 <OTHER-SE> 1,847,755 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 7,983,258 <SALES> 1,198,847 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,799,916 <CGS> 745,560 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,119,001 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,013,148 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 145,682 <INCOME-PRETAX> 522,085 <INCOME-TAX> 180,338 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 341,747 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 341,747 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.27 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.26