<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE TENNECO INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 81 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 808 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 936 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,147 <PP&E> 5,029 <DEPRECIATION> 1,747 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 8,257 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,687 <BONDS> 2,663 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2 <OTHER-SE> 2,536 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 8,257 <SALES> 3,521 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,521 <CGS> 2,563 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,563 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 628 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 98 <INCOME-PRETAX> 273 <INCOME-TAX> 82 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 180 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 180 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.05 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.05