<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF JABIL CIRCUIT INC. FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1997 <CASH> 56,431 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 96,160 <ALLOWANCES> 964 <INVENTORY> 96,944 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 255,273 <PP&E> 185,959 <DEPRECIATION> 69,103 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 374,221 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 153,978 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 18 <OTHER-SE> 161,915 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 374,221 <SALES> 672,894 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 672,894 <CGS> 609,480 <TOTAL-COSTS> 618,471 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,453 <INCOME-PRETAX> 53,020 <INCOME-TAX> 18,561 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 34,459 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 39,459 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.80 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.80