<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NUTRACEUTICAL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION'S FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND MARCH 31, 1998 AND THE RESULTS OF ITS OPERATIONS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 2,198 2,049 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 10,486 9,549 <ALLOWANCES> 860 933 <INVENTORY> 19,610 26,071 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 33,116 39,412 <PP&E> 13,873 17,398 <DEPRECIATION> (3,619) (6,622) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 89,048 92,819 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 12,899 10,076 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 93 118 <OTHER-SE> 14,532 49,218 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 89,048 92,819 <SALES> 47,485 53,656 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 47,485 53,656 <CGS> 25,123 28,600 <TOTAL-COSTS> 25,123 28,600 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 14,858 17,562 <LOSS-PROVISION> 79 211 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,345 2,756 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,159 4,738 <INCOME-TAX> 1,643 1,824 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,516 2,914 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 (3,129) <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,516 (215) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.27 (0.02) <EPS-DILUTED> 0.24 (0.02)