<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN REFERENCE TO THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000922621 <NAME> ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 JUN-30-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 317,743 281,007 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 0 <EQUITIES> 159,056 102,471 <MORTGAGE> 8,314 6,379 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 492,644 396,829 <CASH> 18,094 33,420 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 191 178 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 10,211 9,605 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,238,250 1,073,511 <POLICY-LOSSES> 405,532 362,368 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 224,151 216,240 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 2,170 2,170 <OTHER-SE> 476,483 376,742 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,238,250 1,073,511 <PREMIUMS> 26,888 25,007 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 8,763 6,882 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 1,360 601 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 0 <BENEFITS> 0 0 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 7,344 7,022 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 20,327 19,242 <INCOME-PRETAX> 44,718 39,671 <INCOME-TAX> 14,274 13,204 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 30,444 26,466 <EPS-PRIMARY> .41 .36 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0 0