<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000909724 <NAME> THE LEATHER FACTORY, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 560,269 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 2,636,984 <ALLOWANCES> 125,000 <INVENTORY> 8,333,414 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 12,063,436 <PP&E> 3,113,758 <DEPRECIATION> 2,069,922 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 18,066,324 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 9,414,929 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 23,648 <OTHER-SE> 8,376,061 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 18,066,324 <SALES> 19,678,118 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 19,678,118 <CGS> 11,060,400 <TOTAL-COSTS> 11,060,400 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 7,546,169 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 581,297 <INCOME-PRETAX> 499,931 <INCOME-TAX> 312,849 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 187,082 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 187,082 <EPS-BASIC> 0.02 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.02