<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000005588
<NAME> AMERICAN PAD AND PAPER CORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                             674                     674
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   78,612                  78,612
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (987)                   (987)
<INVENTORY>                                    157,882                 157,882
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               250,167                 250,167
<PP&E>                                         171,918                 171,918
<DEPRECIATION>                                (23,108)                (23,108)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 641,101                 641,101
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          117,356                 117,356
<BONDS>                                        368,547                 368,547
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           274                     274
<OTHER-SE>                                     115,231                 115,231
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   641,101                 641,101
<SALES>                                        176,462                 493,456
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               176,462                 493,456
<CGS>                                          148,246                 401,419
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  163,726                 447,231
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (112)                   (233)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    51                     372
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,851                  27,646
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,997                  18,812
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,350                   8,465
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,647                  10,347
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,647                  10,347
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .06                     .35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0