<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000879437 <NAME> AMERICAN BUSINESS INFORMATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 10,171 <SECURITIES> 20,726 <RECEIVABLES> 48,964 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 93,008 <PP&E> 41,020 <DEPRECIATION> 17,156 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 196,035 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 30,655 <BONDS> 81,636 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 61 <OTHER-SE> 76,615 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 196,035 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 139,511 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 178,565 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,687 <INCOME-PRETAX> (39,228) <INCOME-TAX> 4,299 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (43,527) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (43,527) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.91) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.91)