<ARTICLE>  5  
<LEGEND>              This schedule contains summary financial  
                      information extracted from the Newell Co.   
                      and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance   
                      Sheets and Statements of Income and is   
                      qualified in its entirety by reference to   
                      such financial statements.  
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000  
         
                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       3-MOS                          
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                     DEC-31-1996  
<PERIOD-END>                                          MAR-31-1996  
<CASH>                                                     46,186     
<SECURITIES>                                                    0    
<RECEIVABLES>                                             369,770  
<ALLOWANCES>                                              (11,618)   <F1>
<INVENTORY>                                               547,720  
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                        1,133,318         
<PP&E>                                                    877,271    <F2>  
<DEPRECIATION>                                           (318,964)   <F2>    
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          2,950,346      
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                     647,120  
<BONDS>                                                   805,319         
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           0  
<PREFERRED>                                                     0  
<COMMON>                                                  158,732  
<OTHER-SE>                                              1,149,326         
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                            2,950,346          
<SALES>                                                   618,157           
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                          181,250           
<CGS>                                                     436,907           
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                             548,661           
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           14,180          
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                              685    <F1>  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                         14,442  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                            55,316  
<INCOME-TAX>                                               22,126  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                        33,190  
<DISCONTINUED>                                                  0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                 0  
<CHANGES>                                                       0  
<NET-INCOME>                                               33,190         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                0.21      
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                0.21
 
<FN>  
<F1>   Allowances for doubtful accounts are reported as contra accounts to accounts receivable.  The corporate  
       reserve for bad debts is a percentage of trade receivables based on the bad debts experienced in one or more  
       past years, general economic conditions, the age of the receivables and other factors that indicate the  
       element of uncollectibility in the receivables outstanding at the end of the period.  
<F2>   See notes to consolidated financial statements.