<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-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> FEB-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> AUG-01-1998 <CASH> 868 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 2,956 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 30,845 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 51,903 <PP&E> 54,606 <DEPRECIATION> 15,854 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 98,308 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 34,233 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,478 <OTHER-SE> 58,668 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 98,308 <SALES> 48,014 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 48,014 <CGS> 32,525 <TOTAL-COSTS> 14,345 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 100 <INCOME-PRETAX> (841) <INCOME-TAX> (330) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (511) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (511) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.02) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.02)