<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000889331 <NAME> LITTELFUSE, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-28-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-30-1996 <CASH> $810 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 35,743 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 30,267 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 70,923 <PP&E> 60,459 <DEPRECIATION> 3,126 <TOTAL-ASSETS> $208,539 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 48,122 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 101 <OTHER-SE> (9,542) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 208,539 <SALES> $59,078 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 59,078 <CGS> 34,966 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 979 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,164 <INCOME-TAX> 2,939 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,225 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.42 <EPS-DILUTED> 0