<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000820756
<NAME>                        Duty Free International, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-25-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-27-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUL-27-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         39,887
<SECURITIES>                                   23,049
<RECEIVABLES>                                  24,810
<ALLOWANCES>                                   518
<INVENTORY>                                    115,385
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               219,370
<PP&E>                                         149,342
<DEPRECIATION>                                 53,339
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 429,225
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          73,295
<BONDS>                                        116,718
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       274
<OTHER-SE>                                     232,900
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   429,225
<SALES>                                        281,889
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               283,890
<CGS>                                          158,785
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  158,785
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               151
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             4,213
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                12,200
<INCOME-TAX>                                   4,510
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            7,690
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   0
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.28