<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BEL FUSE
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE NINE
MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         21,373,843
<SECURITIES>                                   2,002,036
<RECEIVABLES>                                  9,936,200
<ALLOWANCES>                                   155,000
<INVENTORY>                                    8,585,970
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               42,235,409
<PP&E>                                         47,290,746
<DEPRECIATION>                                 21,102,452
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 69,459,657
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          7,861,626
<BONDS>                                        0             
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          507,020       
<PREFERRED>                                    0             
<COMMON>                                       0             
<OTHER-SE>                                     60,741,011    
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   69,459,657    
<SALES>                                        47,832,403    
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               47,832,403    
<CGS>                                          33,984,034    
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  42,456,282    
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0             
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0             
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0             
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                7,066,188     
<INCOME-TAX>                                   1,415,000     
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            0             
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0             
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0             
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   5,651,118
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0