<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM SB-2 FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 1997 AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM SB-2. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001042187 <NAME> CTI Industries Ciorporation <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1997 OCT-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1996 NOV-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1997 OCT-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.000 1.000 <CASH> 263 131 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 2,183 1,795 <ALLOWANCES> 116 130 <INVENTORY> 5,059 4,583 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 7,920 6,597 <PP&E> 10,391 10,000 <DEPRECIATION> 6,685 6,416 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 11,756 10,286 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 6,690 6,250 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 1,064 1,028 <COMMON> 75 74 <OTHER-SE> (193) (620) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 11,756 10,286 <SALES> 12,082 13,910 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 12,082 13,910 <CGS> 7,346 8,558 <TOTAL-COSTS> 7,346 8,558 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,918 4,976 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 471 553 <INCOME-PRETAX> 347 (177) <INCOME-TAX> 0 6 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 347 (383) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 347 (183) <EPS-PRIMARY> .20 (.20) <EPS-DILUTED> .16 (.20)