<ARTICLE>                     5
 <LEGEND>
EXHIBIT 27.1 THE CHILDREN'S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC. FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE.
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE CHILDREN'S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC. AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                             YEAR                YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         JAN-31-1998         FEB-01-1997
<PERIOD-START>                            FEB-02-1997         FEB-04-1996
<PERIOD-END>                              JAN-31-1998         FEB-01-1997
<CASH>                                            887               3,422
<SECURITIES>                                        0                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   1,904                 890
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    20,334              14,425
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               38,390              27,688
<PP&E>                                         44,909              32,382
<DEPRECIATION>                                 12,788              12,083
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 79,353              64,479
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          18,152              15,737
<BONDS>                                             0                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0                   0
<PREFERRED>                                         0                   0
<COMMON>                                        2,462               1,281
<OTHER-SE>                                     56,005              26,017
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   79,353              64,479
<SALES>                                       192,557             143,838
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              192,557             143,838
<CGS>                                         123,465              89,786
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  48,669              37,233
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  139                 396
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              2,647               2,884
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                11,679               9,522
<INCOME-TAX>                                    4,695             (20,919)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             6,984              30,441
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 1,743                   0
<CHANGES>                                           0                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                    5,241              30,441
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.24                1.49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.22                1.28