<ARTICLE>   5
<CIK>                         0000744187
<NAME>                        REX STORES CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. DOLLARS
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   JAN-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                       FEB-1-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                        OCT-31-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                               1
<CASH>                                                    2,084
<SECURITIES>                                              1,525
<RECEIVABLES>                                             1,405
<ALLOWANCES>                                                692
<INVENTORY>                                             183,801
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                        194,726
<PP&E>                                                   76,028
<DEPRECIATION>                                            8,380
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          269,993
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                   122,902
<BONDS>                                                  31,342
<COMMON>                                                     95
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                   0
<OTHER-SE>                                               93,361
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                            269,993
<SALES>                                                 278,799
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                        278,799
<CGS>                                                   207,632
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                           207,632
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        3,177
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                           9,962
<INCOME-TAX>                                              3,933
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                       6,029
<DISCONTINUED>                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                              6,029
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               .64
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               .64