<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Petersen Publishing Co. and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001029075 <NAME> PETERSEN PUBLISHING COMPANY, L.L.C. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR 10-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1995 NOV-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1994 DEC-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1995 SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 9,938 12,453 <SECURITIES> 3,744 55 <RECEIVABLES> 20,755 20,648 <ALLOWANCES> (2,220) (1,871) <INVENTORY> 21,347 8,518 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 54,777 41,234 <PP&E> 21,129 18,682 <DEPRECIATION> (13,345) (13,441) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 66,808 50,541 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 49,017 44,025 <BONDS> 0 0 <COMMON> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <OTHER-SE> 8,627 (1,672) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 66,808 50,541 <SALES> 205,262 181,520 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 213,615 189,114 <CGS> 171,112 148,713 <TOTAL-COSTS> 171,112 148,713 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 28,145 24,650 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 185 <INCOME-PRETAX> 14,907 17,657 <INCOME-TAX> 549 331 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 14,358 14,358 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 14,358 14,358 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0