<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
ACCOMPANYING  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000895419
<NAME>                        CREE RESEARCH, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               JUN-27-1999
<PERIOD-START>                  JUN-29-1998
<PERIOD-END>                    MAR-28-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                       1
<CASH>                           53,302
<SECURITIES>                          0
<RECEIVABLES>                    14,181
<ALLOWANCES>                        175
<INVENTORY>                       3,880
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                 72,289
<PP&E>                           69,486
<DEPRECIATION>                   13,315
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  131,462
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             7,860
<BONDS>                               0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                 0
<PREFERRED>                           0
<COMMON>                        107,407
<OTHER-SE>                       13,718
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    131,462
<SALES>                          42,352
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 42,352
<CGS>                            22,341
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    30,897
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                      0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                (482)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  11,937
<INCOME-TAX>                      3,343
<INCOME-CONTINUING>               8,594
<DISCONTINUED>                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                       0
<CHANGES>                             0
<NET-INCOME>                      8,594
<EPS-PRIMARY>                      0.65
<EPS-DILUTED>                      0.61