<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000744187 <NAME> REX STORES CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> FEB-1-1995 <PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 685 <SECURITIES> 1,525 <RECEIVABLES> 2,242 <ALLOWANCES> 638 <INVENTORY> 146,566 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 156,023 <PP&E> 78,978 <DEPRECIATION> 8,671 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 234,599 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 76,007 <BONDS> 32,590 <COMMON> 95 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 102,251 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 234,599 <SALES> 442,217 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 442,217 <CGS> 327,636 <TOTAL-COSTS> 327,636 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,707 <INCOME-PRETAX> 24,075 <INCOME-TAX> 9,502 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 14,573 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 14,573 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.56 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.56