<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE RYDER SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND JUNE 30, 1997 (RESTATED FOR DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS) AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1998 Dec-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1998 Jan-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> Jun-30-1998 Jun-30-1997 <CASH> 73,731 117,798 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 587,164 593,033 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 67,591 62,356 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,089,267 1,103,905 <PP&E> 6,284,185 6,442,063 <DEPRECIATION> 2,431,229 2,575,378 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,673,517 5,643,182 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,018,259 1,255,168 <BONDS> 2,449,608 2,130,614 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 309,189 471,498 <OTHER-SE> 791,736 665,111 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5,673,517 5,643,182 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,527,194 2,421,118 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,292,458 2,196,232 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 97,511 96,664 <INCOME-PRETAX> 137,225 128,222 <INCOME-TAX> 54,684 52,443 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 82,541 75,779 <DISCONTINUED> 0 7,922 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 82,541 83,701 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.12 1.08<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> 1.10 1.07 <FN> <F1>TAG (EPS - PRIMARY DENOTES BASIC EPS) </FN>