<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC. AND ITS
SUBSIDIARIES AS OF DECEMBER 28, 1996 AND THE RELATED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED
INCOME AND CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUN-28-1997             JUN-28-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-28-1996             DEC-28-1996
<CASH>                                           5,302                   5,302
<SECURITIES>                                     1,603                   1,603
<RECEIVABLES>                                   36,602                  36,602
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,834                   3,834
<INVENTORY>                                      8,863                   8,863
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                63,031                  63,031
<PP&E>                                         102,805                 102,805
<DEPRECIATION>                                  71,586                  71,586
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  95,526                  95,526
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           32,967                  32,967
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<COMMON>                                        14,077                  14,077
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      48,080                  48,080
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    95,526                  95,526
<SALES>                                         63,203                 123,905
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                63,203                 123,905
<CGS>                                           20,646                  42,607
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   34,736                  72,502
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (1,614)                 (1,786)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   781                   1,455
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  11                      11
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,435                  10,582
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,735                   4,204
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,700                   6,378
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,700                   6,378
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .43                     .47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .43                     .47