<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Patrick Industries, Inc.'s Form 10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Form 10-Q filing. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 2,022,986 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 28,768,535 <ALLOWANCES> (130,000) <INVENTORY> 37,328,685 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 68,135,374 <PP&E> 62,828,952 <DEPRECIATION> (25,144,730) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 111,207,569 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 22,635,484 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 21,767,744 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 111,207,569 <SALES> 306,849,116 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 306,849,116 <CGS> 266,172,613 <TOTAL-COSTS> 292,150,519 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 823,347 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,875,250 <INCOME-TAX> 5,441,500 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,433,750 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,433,750 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.41 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.41