<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements contained in the body of the accompanying Form 10-K and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000101271
<NAME>                        United Industrial Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  12-MOS     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                         21,126     
<SECURITIES>                                   4,702      
<RECEIVABLES>                                  34,316     
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0          
<INVENTORY>                                    23,569     
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               97,459     
<PP&E>                                         113,209    
<DEPRECIATION>                                 82,643     
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 184,446    
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          40,644     
<BONDS>                                        4,175      
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0          
<PREFERRED>                                    0          
<COMMON>                                       14,374     
<OTHER-SE>                                     95,067     
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   184,446    
<SALES>                                        204,305    
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               212,898    
<CGS>                                          152,034    
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  194,065    
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               2,783      
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0          
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             170        
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                15,880     
<INCOME-TAX>                                   2,869      
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            13,011     
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0          
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0          
<CHANGES>                                      0          
<NET-INCOME>                                   13,011     
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.06       
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.03