<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000008818 <NAME> AVERY DENNISON <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-02-1999 <PERIOD-START> DEC-28-1997 <PERIOD-END> JAN-02-1999 <CASH> 18,500 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 471,300 <ALLOWANCES> 16,500 <INVENTORY> 230,600 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 802,000 <PP&E> 1,932,600 <DEPRECIATION> 897,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,142,600 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 664,300 <BONDS> 465,900 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 124,100 <OTHER-SE> 709,200 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,142,600 <SALES> 3,459,900 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,459,900 <CGS> 2,315,400 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,315,400 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 773,200 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 34,600 <INCOME-PRETAX> 336,700 <INCOME-TAX> 113,400 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 223,300 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 223,300 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.20<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> 2.15 <FN> <F1>Represents EPS-Basic </FN>