<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PRIMARK
CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31,
1998 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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          22,185
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  114,667
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,319
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               385,399
<PP&E>                                          94,775
<DEPRECIATION>                                  47,644
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,090,172
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          240,175
<BONDS>                                        326,220
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                           0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,090,172
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               104,411
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   40,949
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                52,145
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,149
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,057
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,435
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,622
<DISCONTINUED>                                   4,898
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,520
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.30