<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000889331 <NAME> LITTELFUSE, INC <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-03-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-27-1997 <CASH> $251 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 44,572 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 40,441 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 90,492 <PP&E> 70,191 <DEPRECIATION> 9,781 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 231,799 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 58,470 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 200 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 231,799 <SALES> 204,404 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 204,404 <CGS> 121,116 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,989 <INCOME-PRETAX> 31,071 <INCOME-TAX> 11,496 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,575 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.82 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.81