<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND> 
This schedule  contains  summary  information  extracted  from the
consolidated  balance sheet of Shaw  Industriess,  Inc. and  subsidiaries  as of
December  30,  1995  and  the  related   consoldiated   statements   of  income,
shareholders'  investment  and cash flows for the year ended  December 30, 1995,
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

       


                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-30-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-30-1995
<CASH>                                         31,453,000
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  345,443,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (14,746,000)
<INVENTORY>                                    489,212,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               902,511,000
<PP&E>                                         1,234,000,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                 602,010,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,662,783,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          261,066,000
<BONDS>                                        0
<COMMON>                                       150,913,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<OTHER-SE>                                     559,276,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,662,783,000
<SALES>                                        2,869,828,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               2,869,828,000
<CGS>                                          2,319,894,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  2,319,894,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               392,649,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               8,629,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             41,901,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                106,755,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                   43,603,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            63,152,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      (12,077,000)
<NET-INCOME>                                   52,304,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .38