<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WPI GROUP, INC. FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 28, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-27-1998 <PERIOD-START> SEP-29-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-28-1998 <CASH> 1,424,231 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 18,845,469 <ALLOWANCES> 1,270,000 <INVENTORY> 9,557,995 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 32,679,482 <PP&E> 17,902,830 <DEPRECIATION> 4,395,947 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 80,503,061 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 14,523,791 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 60,240 <OTHER-SE> 25,639,351 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 80,503,061 <SALES> 69,494,757 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 69,494,757 <CGS> 40,511,951 <TOTAL-COSTS> 62,166,369 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,445,588 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,900,551 <INCOME-TAX> 1,568,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,332,551 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,332,551 <EPS-PRIMARY> .55 <EPS-DILUTED> .54