<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE CHILDREN'S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> FEB-02-1997 <PERIOD-END> NOV-01-1997 <CASH> 789 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 2,225 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 26,965 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 40,198 <PP&E> 47,622 <DEPRECIATION> 16,197 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 86,621 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 31,133 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,462 <OTHER-SE> 50,344 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 86,621 <SALES> 54,489 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 54,489 <CGS> 33,081 <TOTAL-COSTS> 13,151 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 18 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 708 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,930 <INCOME-TAX> 2,433 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,497 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 1,743 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,754 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.07 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.07