<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE WARNACO GROUP, INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED OCTOBER 3, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-03-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-04-1998 <PERIOD-END> OCT-03-1998 <CASH> 17,189 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 481,178 <ALLOWANCES> (21,481) <INVENTORY> 625,545 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,142,884 <PP&E> 333,631 <DEPRECIATION> (120,717) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,238,337 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 637,018 <BONDS> 627,030 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 101,566 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 692 <OTHER-SE> 825,152 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,238,337 <SALES> 1,402,207 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,402,207 <CGS> 915,993 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,209,866 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,655 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 43,856 <INCOME-PRETAX> 145,830 <INCOME-TAX> 51,478 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 94,352 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 94,352 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.52 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.48