<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF SHAW INDUSTRIES,  INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
AS OF JULY 3, 1999 AND THE RELATED CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS OF INCOME
AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS  ENDED  JULY 3, 1999 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>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000



                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUL-03-1999
<CASH>                                         10,832
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  290,798
<ALLOWANCES>                                   25,890
<INVENTORY>                                    694,153
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,139,570
<PP&E>                                         1,529,930
<DEPRECIATION>                                 788,846
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,340,999
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          594,854
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       153,613
<OTHER-SE>                                     703,240
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2,340,999
<SALES>                                        2,020,929
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               2,020,929
<CGS>                                          1,494,182
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1,494,182
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               311,912
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               2,587
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             31,302
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                180,936
<INCOME-TAX>                                   74,502
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            106,434
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   108,423
<EPS-BASIC>                                  0.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.76