<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION'S REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 3, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-02-1999 <PERIOD-END> OCT-03-1998 <CASH> 416,084 <SECURITIES> 1,135,876 <RECEIVABLES> 889,263 <ALLOWANCES> 55,315 <INVENTORY> 619,315 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 3,269,275 <PP&E> 1,268,395 <DEPRECIATION> 443,375 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,244,127 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,122,477 <BONDS> 1,894,543 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 166,971 <OTHER-SE> 2,054,303 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 6,244,127 <SALES> 2,733,993 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,869,231 <CGS> 1,608,519 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,727,160 <F1> <OTHER-EXPENSES> 205,238 <F2> <LOSS-PROVISION> 5,473 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 77,077 <INCOME-PRETAX> 308,147 <INCOME-TAX> 130,069 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 140,043 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 4,817 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 144,860 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.89 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.84 <FN> <F1>THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT ACCOUNTS: "COST OF PRODUCT AND SERVICE REVENUES" AND "COST OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS". <F2>THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT ACCOUNTS: RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER NONRECURRING COSTS" AND "INTERNALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT". </FN>