<ARTICLE>                                                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM
CONSOLIDATED  CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET OF LILLY INDUSTRIES,  INC. AT NOVEMBER 30,
1998 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-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                     NOV-30-1998
<CASH>                                              13,326
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       84,020
<ALLOWANCES>                                         1,981
<INVENTORY>                                         50,796
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   152,032
<PP&E>                                             162,357
<DEPRECIATION>                                      60,189
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     516,485
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              101,961
<BONDS>                                                  0
<COMMON>                                            97,649
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<OTHER-SE>                                          67,926
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       516,485
<SALES>                                            619,002
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   619,002
<CGS>                                              379,641
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      546,971
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       666
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  16,919
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     54,446
<INCOME-TAX>                                        22,867
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        31,579
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.35