<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PITNEY BOWES INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND CORRESPONDING
FOOTNOTE #3 FIXED ASSETS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
 
                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>              12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             DEC-31-1998    
<PERIOD-END>                                                  DEC-31-1998    
<CASH>                                                            125,684    
<SECURITIES>                                                        3,302    
<RECEIVABLES>                                                   1,859,089<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                                       75,897<F1>
<INVENTORY>                                                       266,734    
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                2,508,963    
<PP&E>                                                          2,860,568<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                                  1,576,507<F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  7,661,039    
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                           2,721,812    
<BONDS>                                                         1,712,937    
<COMMON>                                                          323,338    
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                             310,097    
<PREFERRED>                                                         2,065    
<OTHER-SE>                                                      1,322,599    
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                    7,661,039    
<SALES>                                                         1,993,546    
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                4,220,517    
<CGS>                                                           1,146,404    
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                   1,663,571    
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                  100,806    
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                        0    
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                168,558    
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                   864,177    
<INCOME-TAX>                                                      296,236    
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                               567,941    
<DISCONTINUED>                                                      8,453    
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                         0    
<CHANGES>                                                               0    
<NET-INCOME>                                                      576,394    
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                        2.10    
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        2.06    
<FN>
<F1>  Receivables are comprised of trade receivables of $407,071 and short-term
finance receivables of $1,452,018.  Allowances are comprised of allowance for
trade receivables of $24,665 and for short-term finance receivables of $51,232.
<F2>  Property, plant and equipment are comprised of fixed assets of $1,153,573
and rental equipment and related inventories of $1,706,995.  Depreciation is
comprised of depreciation on fixed assets of $676,097 and on rental equipment
and related inventories of $900,410.
</FN>