<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM PITNEY BOWES INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET,  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF INCOME AND CORRESPONDING
FOOTNOTE #3 FIXED  ASSETS AND IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                         DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                              DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                                    125,684
<SECURITIES>                                              3,302
<RECEIVABLES>    <F1>                                     1,859,089
<ALLOWANCES>     <F1>                                     75,897
<INVENTORY>                                               266,734
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                          2,508,963
<PP&E>           <F2>                                     2,860,568
<DEPRECIATION>   <F2>                                     1,576,507
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            7,661,039
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                     2,721,812
<BONDS>                                                   1,712,937
<COMMON>                                                  323,338
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     310,097
<PREFERRED>                                               2,065
<OTHER-SE>                                                1,322,599
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                              7,661,039
<SALES>                                                   1,993,546
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                          4,090,915
<CGS>                                                     1,146,404
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                             1,565,527
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                          100,806
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        162,092
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                           824,604
<INCOME-TAX>                                              282,092
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                       542,512
<DISCONTINUED>                                            33,882
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                              576,394
<EPS-BASIC>                                             2.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             2.06
<FN>
<F1>  Receivables are comprised of trade  receivables of $407,071 and short-term
finance  receivables  of  $1,452,018.  Allowances are comprised of allowance for
trade receivables of $24,665 and for short-term finance  receivables of $51,232.
<F2>  Property,  plant and equipment are comprised of fixed assets of $1,153,573
and rental  equipment and related  inventories  of $1,706,995.  Depreciation  is
comprised of  depreciation  on fixed assets of $676,097 and on rental  equipment
and related inventories of $900,410.
</FN>