<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