<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF THE GEON COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTH PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 62 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 140 <ALLOWANCES> 3 <INVENTORY> 158 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 394 <PP&E> 814 <DEPRECIATION> 490 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1163 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 461 <BONDS> 127 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 3 <OTHER-SE> 311 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1163 <SALES> 942 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 942 <CGS> 767 <TOTAL-COSTS> 870 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (92) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13 <INCOME-PRETAX> 151 <INCOME-TAX> 59 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 92 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 1 <NET-INCOME> 91 <EPS-BASIC> 3.90 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.74