<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF C.H. ROBINSON, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 42,567 40,288 <SECURITIES> 42,711 50,225 <RECEIVABLES> 181,014 215,441 <ALLOWANCES> 10,079 11,130 <INVENTORY> 6,698 5,018 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 280,422 321,058 <PP&E> 36,608 38,958 <DEPRECIATION> (13,561) (15,821) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 320,780 361,160 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 166,352 189,794 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 4,137 4,126 <OTHER-SE> 150,291 167,240 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 320,780 361,160 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,605,905 855,152 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,555,876 828,461 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 5,139 2,287 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 53,124 28,572 <INCOME-TAX> 20,682 11,339 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 32,442 17,233 <DISCONTINUED> 2,158 900 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 34,600 18,133 <EPS-PRIMARY> .83 .44 <EPS-DILUTED> .83 .44