<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>

This schedule  contains  summary  information  extracted  from the  consolidated
balance sheet of Shaw Industries,  Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 28, 1996
and the related consolidated statements of income,  shareholders' investment and
cash  flows for the year  ended  December  28,  1996,  and is  qualified  in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.


</LEGEND>

       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-28-1996
<CASH>                                         49,581,000
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  393,983,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (16,667,000)
<INVENTORY>                                    556,785,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,081,405,000
<PP&E>                                         1,337,546,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                 682,405,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,984,398,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          411,061,000
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       147,379,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     524,332,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,984,398,000
<SALES>                                        3,200,964,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               3,200,964,000
<CGS>                                          2,486,164,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  2,486,164,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               587,963,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               10,777,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             42,442,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                73,618,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                   43,463,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            30,155,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   34,023,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .25