<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM EQUIFAX INC. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 117,478 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 300,072 <ALLOWANCES> 11,796 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 543,960 <PP&E> 270,007 <DEPRECIATION> 155,023 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,732,664 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 405,499 <BONDS> 938,883 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 217,354 <OTHER-SE> 4,497 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,732,664 <SALES> 421,504 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 421,504 <CGS> 248,758 <TOTAL-COSTS> 248,758 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 83,936 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,135 <INCOME-PRETAX> 74,157 <INCOME-TAX> 30,256 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 43,901 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 43,901 <EPS-PRIMARY> .32 <EPS-DILUTED> .31