<ARTICLE>      5
<LEGEND>
THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE YORK GROUP, INC. 1997 FOURTH QUARTER REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE T0 SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>     1,000
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                              15,478
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       25,102
<ALLOWANCES>                                         3,117
<INVENTORY>                                         36,325
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    79,522
<PP&E>                                              59,794
<DEPRECIATION>                                      21,076
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     130,545
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               22,915
<BONDS>                                             25,925
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                                89
<OTHER-SE>                                          75,558
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       130,545
<SALES>                                            178,690
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   178,690
<CGS>                                              130,144
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      130,144
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     650
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     19,457
<INCOME-TAX>                                         7,394
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 12,063
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        12,063
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.34