<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 27, 1997 AMD 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-27-1998              JUN-27-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-28-1997              JUN-29-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-27-1997              DEC-27-1997
<CASH>                                           3,957                    3,957
<SECURITIES>                                     1,011                    1,011
<RECEIVABLES>                                   50,313                   50,313
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (3,329)                  (3,329)
<INVENTORY>                                     19,281                   19,281
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                90,152                   90,152
<PP&E>                                         123,470                  123,470
<DEPRECIATION>                                  76,784                   76,784
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 238,539                  238,539
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           43,293                   43,293
<BONDS>                                              0                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                        0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                        0 
<COMMON>                                        14,693                   14,693
<OTHER-SE>                                      76,036                   76,036
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   238,539                  238,539
<SALES>                                         81,651                  157,266
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                81,651                  157,266
<CGS>                                           30,457                   59,468
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   30,457                   59,468
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   707                    1,391
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 477                      954
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 10,541                   20,273
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,058                    7,829
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              6,483                   12,444
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                        0
<CHANGES>                                            0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,483                   12,444
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .47                      .91
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .46                      .89