<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE YORK GROUP, INC. 1998 THIRD QUARTER REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 3,246 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 33,624 <ALLOWANCES> 4,016 <INVENTORY> 39,453 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 79,800 <PP&E> 79,937 <DEPRECIATION> 26,308 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 200,686 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,978 <BONDS> 77,950 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 89 <OTHER-SE> 83,688 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 200,686 <SALES> 174,186 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 174,186 <CGS> 124,555 <TOTAL-COSTS> 124,555 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,312 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,030 <INCOME-TAX> 5,903 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 9,127 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,127 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.02 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.99