WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
RITE AID CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES RESTATED FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE FOR THE
YEAR ENDED MARCH 1, 1997 (EDGAR FILING ONLY) THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY
FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE REGISTRANT'S 1997 ANNUAL REPORT AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-01-1997
<CASH>                                           7,042
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  385,171
<ALLOWANCES>                                    14,583
<INVENTORY>                                  2,336,659
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,771,499
<PP&E>                                       2,669,856
<DEPRECIATION>                                 773,786
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,416,981
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,172,010
<BONDS>                                      2,415,652
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       129,342
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,359,343
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 6,416,981
<SALES>                                      6,970,201
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             6,970,201
<CGS>                                        5,113,047
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                5,113,047
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                68,057<F3>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              96,473
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                258,927
<INCOME-TAX>                                    98,393
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            160,534
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 45,157
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   115,377
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .63<F1><F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .62<F1><F2>
<FN>
<F1> Restated to reflect adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128
     "Earnings Per Share" in the year ended February 28, 1998.
<F2> Restated to reflect the two-for-one stock split on February 2, 1998.
<F3> Amended to exclude selling, general and administrative expenses included in
     [OTHER-EXPENSES] in the Financial Data Schedule previously filed for the year
     ended March 1, 1997.
</FN>