<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-31-1999             APR-11-1999             SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                               1                       0                  31,200
<SECURITIES>                                        42                       0                      42
<RECEIVABLES>                                   56,971                       0                 218,411
<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,220                       0                   4,669
<INVENTORY>                                    150,719                       0                 155,428
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               243,563                       0                 419,026
<PP&E>                                       1,677,105                       0               2,724,842
<DEPRECIATION>                                 735,749                       0                 817,918
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,367,403                       0               2,425,839
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          164,152                       0                 216,089
<BONDS>                                         17,552                       0               1,652,209
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                  96,500
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0                     946
<OTHER-SE>                                     908,392                       0                 356,774
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,367,403                       0               2,425,839
<SALES>                                      1,571,019                 433,182                 816,538
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,571,019                 433,182                 816,538
<CGS>                                        1,289,644                 367,483                 640,587
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,289,644                 367,483                 640,587
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,710                     412                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,782                     221                  73,627
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                118,968               (212,315)                  35,588
<INCOME-TAX>                                    47,529                  83,716                  14,655
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             71,439               (128,599)                  20,933
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                 (6,327)                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    71,439               (134,926)                  20,933
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0                       0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0                       0