<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM PITNEY BOWES INC.
CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET,  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF INCOME,  CORRESPONDING
FOOTNOTE #4 FIXED  ASSETS AND IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                             MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                       129,687
<SECURITIES>                                   1,654
<RECEIVABLES>                <F1>          2,039,111
<ALLOWANCES>                 <F1>             76,781
<INVENTORY>                                  260,727
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           2,705,057
<PP&E>                       <F2>          2,887,401
<DEPRECIATION>               <F2>          1,582,946
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             7,842,303
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      2,932,377
<BONDS>                                    1,710,427
<COMMON>                                     323,338
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        310,000
<PREFERRED>                                    2,010
<OTHER-SE>                                 1,260,028
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               7,842,303
<SALES>                                      510,382
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           1,049,324
<CGS>                                        296,719
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                407,652
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              25,904
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            46,059
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              209,240
<INCOME-TAX>                                  70,669
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          138,571
<DISCONTINUED>                                 3,700
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                 142,271
<EPS-BASIC>                                   0.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   0.52
<FN>
<F1>  Receivables  are  comprised  of gross trade  receivables  of $444,669  and
short-term  finance  receivables  of  $1,594,442.  Allowances  are  comprised of
allowances  for  trade  receivables  of  $25,667  and  for  short-term   finance
receivables  of $51,114.
<F2>  Property,  plant and  equipment  are  comprised  of gross fixed  assets of
$1,160,064  and  rental   equipment  and  related   inventories  of  $1,727,337.
Depreciation  is  comprised of  depreciation  on fixed assets of $685,079 and on
rental equipment and related inventories of $897,867.
</FN>