<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> Financial Data Sheet </LEGEND> <CIK> 319379 <NAME> PSC Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> OCT-03-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 3,843 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 32,307 <ALLOWANCES> 1,476 <INVENTORY> 18,670 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 56,726 <PP&E> 36,243 <DEPRECIATION> 11,580 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 175,662 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 44,631 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1 <COMMON> 112 <OTHER-SE> 25,654 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 25,767 <SALES> 154,728 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 154,728 <CGS> 91,947 <TOTAL-COSTS> 53,126 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,793 <INCOME-PRETAX> 287 <INCOME-TAX> 105 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 182 <DISCONTINUED> (101) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 81 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.01 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.01