<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> The Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Howell Industries, Inc. Financial Statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> AUG-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1996 <CASH> $ 4,660,050 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 5,855,052 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 7,645,737 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 20,504,328 <PP&E> 22,950,163 <DEPRECIATION> (15,180,642) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 28,273,849 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 7,738,767 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 593,584 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 18,366,868 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 28,273,849 <SALES> 79,211,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 79,211,000 <CGS> 72,356,066 <TOTAL-COSTS> 74,058,014 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 741,791 <INCOME-TAX> (267,000) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 474,791 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 474,791 <EPS-PRIMARY> .76 <EPS-DILUTED> .76