<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001028985 <NAME> RAYOVAC CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-29-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 4,756 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 67,471 <ALLOWANCES> 1,178 <INVENTORY> 52,116 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 136,140 <PP&E> 142,912 <DEPRECIATION> 78,505 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 218,040 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 85,683 <BONDS> 206,615 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 500 <OTHER-SE> (81,717) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> (218,040) <SALES> 320,965 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 320,965 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 178,359 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 119,130 <LOSS-PROVISION> 625 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,884 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,141 <INCOME-TAX> 829 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,312 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,312 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.16 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.16