<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> 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> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> FEB-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAY-02-1998 <CASH> 3,570 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 2,940 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 17,977 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 40,402 <PP&E> 49,492 <DEPRECIATION> 14,085 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 83,022 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 18,726 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,471 <OTHER-SE> 58,990 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 83,022 <SALES> 55,999 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 55,999 <CGS> 33,866 <TOTAL-COSTS> 15,788 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 59 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,623 <INCOME-TAX> 1,881 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,742 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,742 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.11 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.11