<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PITNEY BOWES INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME, CORRESPONDING FOOTNOTE #3 FIXED ASSETS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 135,271 <SECURITIES> 1,500 <RECEIVABLES> 1,736,352<F1> <ALLOWANCES> 56,336<F1> <INVENTORY> 281,942 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,222,066 <PP&E> 2,727,612<F2> <DEPRECIATION> 1,426,277<F2> <TOTAL-ASSETS> 8,155,722 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 3,305,289 <BONDS> 1,300,434 <COMMON> 323,338 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 200,000 <PREFERRED> 2,415 <OTHER-SE> 1,913,293 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 8,155,722 <SALES> 1,675,090 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,858,579 <CGS> 1,025,250 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,554,990 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 81,726 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 203,877 <INCOME-PRETAX> 684,383 <INCOME-TAX> 214,970 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 469,413 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 469,413 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.57 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.56 <FN> <F1>Receivables are comprised of trade receivables of $356,890 and short-term finance receivables of $1,379,462. Allowances are comprised of allowance for trade receivables of $16,160 and for short-term finance receivables of $40,176. <F2>Property, plant and equipment are comprised of fixed assets of $1,093,501 and rental equipment and related inventories of $1,634,111. Depreciation is comprised of depreciation on fixed assets of $607,472 and on rental equipment and related inventories of $818,805. </FN>