<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BEL FUSE
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AT MARCH 31, 1997 AND THE THREE
MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                  MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                         21,947,633
<SECURITIES>                                    4,347,610
<RECEIVABLES>                                   8,626,920
<ALLOWANCES>                                      195,000
<INVENTORY>                                     9,814,403
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               45,175,864
<PP&E>                                         49,406,552
<DEPRECIATION>                                 22,856,045
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 72,838,444
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           7,286,822
<BONDS>                                                 0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                             0
<COMMON>                                          507,320
<OTHER-SE>                                     62,232,302
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   72,838,444
<SALES>                                        15,962,204
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               15,962,204
<CGS>                                          11,370,115
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  14,463,424
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 1,838,859
<INCOME-TAX>                                      529,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                     0
<DISCONTINUED>                                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                         0
<CHANGES>                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                    1,309,859
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         .26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           0