WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE. This schedule contains summary financial extracted from the interim consolidated balance sheet and income statement of Allmerica Financial Corporation as of September 30, 1998 and for the period then ended, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 7918 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 372 <MORTGAGES> 562 <REAL-ESTATE> 25 <TOTAL-INVEST> 9169 <CASH> 410 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 1155 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 1108 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 25245 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2749 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 883 <POLICY-OTHER> 2856 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 2567 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 258 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 300 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1 <OTHER-SE> 2479 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 25245 <PREMIUMS> 1730 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 463 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 51 <OTHER-INCOME> 321 <BENEFITS> 1550 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 344 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 478 <INCOME-PRETAX> 192 <INCOME-TAX> 34 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 159 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 135 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.26 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.24 <RESERVE-OPEN> 2615 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 1220 <PROVISION-PRIOR> (93) <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 552 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 588 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 2586 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0