<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PRIMARK CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AS REPORTED IN THE FORM 10-Q FOR SUCH PERIOD AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000356064 <NAME> PRIMARK <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 16,308 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 181,969 <ALLOWANCES> 3,109 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 259,750 <PP&E> 125,371 <DEPRECIATION> 67,053 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,071,665 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 237,525 <BONDS> 335,843 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,071,665 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 617,468 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 342,830 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 229,749 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19,809 <INCOME-PRETAX> 31,841 <INCOME-TAX> 18,537 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 13,304 <DISCONTINUED> (552) <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,955) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,797 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.39 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.39