<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 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-31-1998 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 MAR-31-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 361,655 306,893 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 0 <EQUITIES> 182,703 134,948 <MORTGAGE> 8,360 8,007 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 564,517 456,953 <CASH> 43,443 23,273 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 155 182 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 10,338 9,694 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,346,821 1,191,465 <POLICY-LOSSES> 420,367 403,300 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 217,849 215,502 <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> 570,600 449,283 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,346,821 1,191,465 <PREMIUMS> 27,461 25,851 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 10,320 8,580 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 997 1,137 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 0 <BENEFITS> 0 0 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 7,536 7,001 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 18,497 18,898 <INCOME-PRETAX> 46,505 41,343 <INCOME-TAX> 14,806 13,132 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 31,699 28,211 <EPS-PRIMARY> .43 .38 <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