<ARTICLE>                                                                 5
<LEGEND>  THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
          FROM THE AUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
          WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
          JANUARY 2, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
          SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                         1,000
       
                                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               JAN-2-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                                  JAN-4-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                    JAN-2-1999
<CASH>                                                               6,203
<SECURITIES>                                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                      152,110
<ALLOWANCES>                                                         5,896
<INVENTORY>                                                        167,039
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                   340,978
<PP&E>                                                             194,374
<DEPRECIATION>                                                      83,239
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     521,478
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                               51,268
<BONDS>                                                            157,089
<COMMON>                                                            43,832
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                                              0
<OTHER-SE>                                                         256,488
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                       521,478
<SALES>                                                            669,329
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                   669,329
<CGS>                                                              456,726
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                      456,726
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   8,449
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                     61,808
<INCOME-TAX>                                                        20,157
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                 41,651
<DISCONTINUED>                                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                                        41,651
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         1.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          .97