<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> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> FEB-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 1,209 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 3,203 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 40,884 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 61,397 <PP&E> 59,561 <DEPRECIATION> 17,676 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 106,012 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 33,169 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,484 <OTHER-SE> 67,332 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 106,012 <SALES> 82,496 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 82,496 <CGS> 46,370 <TOTAL-COSTS> 19,501 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 15 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 222 <INCOME-PRETAX> 14,382 <INCOME-TAX> 5,897 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,485 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,485 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.34 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.33