<ARTICLE>                                                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET OF LILLY  INDUSTRIES,  INC. AT NOVEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE
CONSOLIDATED  CONDENSED  STATEMENT OF INCOME OF LILLY  INDUSTRIES,  INC. FOR THE
YEAR THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                  1,000
       

                                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                 Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             NOV-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                  NOV-30-1996
<CASH>                                                           6,790
<SECURITIES>                                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                   87,298
<ALLOWANCES>                                                     2,706
<INVENTORY>                                                     47,546
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               158,718
<PP&E>                                                         127,539
<DEPRECIATION>                                                  46,957
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                 521,860
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                          108,139
<BONDS>                                                              0
<COMMON>                                                        90,836
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                0
<PREFERRED>                                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                                      31,053
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                   521,860
<SALES>                                                        508,976
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                               508,976
<CGS>                                                          321,748
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                  461,010
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                   638
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              14,466
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                 34,138
<INCOME-TAX>                                                    15,362
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                      0
<CHANGES>                                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                                    18,776
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                      .81
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      .81