<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF NOBILITY HOMES, INC. AS OF AND FOR THE FIRST QUARTER ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> NOV-02-1997 <PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998 <CASH> 6,355,568 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,007,168 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 8,045,897 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 15,673,404 <PP&E> 2,702,491 <DEPRECIATION> 1,399,975 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 19,644,931 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 3,550,782 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 492,209 <OTHER-SE> 15,601,940 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 19,644,931 <SALES> 10,605,965 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 10,605,965 <CGS> 7,895,612 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,503,891 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,299,315 <INCOME-TAX> 499,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 800,315 <EPS-PRIMARY> .18 <EPS-DILUTED> .18