<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF AMERIGAS PARTNERS, LP AS OF AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN AMERIGAS PARTNERS' QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000932628 <NAME> AMERIGAS PARTNERS, L.P. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 24,375 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 126,403 <ALLOWANCES> 8,072 <INVENTORY> 78,746 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 233,173 <PP&E> 620,559 <DEPRECIATION> 175,832 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,363,763 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 208,661 <BONDS> 696,263 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 401,940 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,363,763 <SALES> 302,923 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 302,923 <CGS> 163,160 <TOTAL-COSTS> 163,160 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,950 <INCOME-PRETAX> 27,087 <INCOME-TAX> 340 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 26,451 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 26,451 <EPS-PRIMARY> .63 <EPS-DILUTED> .63