<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000059479
<NAME>                        LILLY INDUSTRIES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             NOV-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                MAR-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                  MAY-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                   1.000
<CASH>                                            9,321
<SECURITIES>                                          0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    84,841
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (2,817)
<INVENTORY>                                      48,681
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                152,245
<PP&E>                                          131,153
<DEPRECIATION>                                  (50,653)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  509,103
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           103,811
<BONDS>                                               0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                           0
<COMMON>                                         92,546
<OTHER-SE>                                       38,820
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    509,103
<SALES>                                         154,238
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                154,238
<CGS>                                            95,045
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   135,763
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     29
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                4,989
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  13,457
<INCOME-TAX>                                      6,056
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   0
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                      7,401
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       .32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       .32