<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  information  extracted  from the  consolidated
balance sheet of Shaw  Industries,  Inc. and  subsidiaries as of January 3, 1998
and the related consolidated statements of income,  shareholders' investment and
cash flows for the year ended January 3, 1998,  and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such  financial  statements.

Note:  Earnings Per Share (E.P.S.) have been  calculated in accordance with FASB
128.
</LEGEND>

       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-03-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JAN-03-1998
<CASH>                                         43,571,000
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  374,516,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   16,283,000
<INVENTORY>                                    530,059,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,066,413,000
<PP&E>                                         1,383,823,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                 759,444,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,967,614,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          325,454,000
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       145,542,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     491,992,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,967,614,000
<SALES>                                        3,575,774,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               3,575,774,000
<CGS>                                          2,680,472,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  2,680,472,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               794,932,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               9,318,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             60,769,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                30,283,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                   5,586,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            24,697,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   28,959,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .22