<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>                      12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                     DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                                 4,360
<SECURITIES>                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        404,170
<ALLOWANCES>                                         (13,190) <F1>
<INVENTORY>                                          509,504
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   1,108,114
<PP&E>                                               927,593  <F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                      (372,159) <F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     3,005,054
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                637,013
<BONDS>                                              672,033
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<COMMON>                                             158,871
<OTHER-SE>                                         1,332,969
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       3,005,054
<SALES>                                            2,872,817
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     907,317
<CGS>                                              1,965,500
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      2,387,130
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      61,053
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       6,034  <F1>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    56,989
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      424,634
<INCOME-TAX>                                         168,155
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  256,479
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                         256,479
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           1.62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           1.62
<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 note 1 to consolidated financial statements.