<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000075677
<NAME> PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   OTHER                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1999             APR-12-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998             APR-11-1999             DEC-31-1999
<CASH>                                               1                       0                  10,300
<SECURITIES>                                        42                       0                      42
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<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,220                       0                   4,681
<INVENTORY>                                    150,719                       0                 163,858
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               243,563                       0                 402,927
<PP&E>                                       1,677,105                       0               2,505,138
<DEPRECIATION>                                 735,749                       0                 842,532
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<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0                     946
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<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,571,019                 433,182               1,262,285
<CGS>                                        1,289,644                 367,483                 973,525
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,289,644                 367,483                 973,525
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,710                   (412)                   1,833
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,782                     221                 107,594
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                118,968               (212,315)                  84,636
<INCOME-TAX>                                    47,529                  83,716                  37,239
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<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                 (6,327)                 (6,897)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    71,439               (134,926)                  40,500
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .76                  (1.43)                     .34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .76                  (1.43)                     .32