<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule   contains   summary   financial   information   extracted   from
Heilig-Meyers  Company's Consolidated  Statements of Operations and Consolidated
Balance Sheets and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000

<S>                                              <C>                 <C>                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS               6-MOS               3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                FEB-28-1998         FEB-28-1998         FEB-28-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                     NOV-30-1997         AUG-31-1997         MAY-31-1997
<CASH>                                                 17370               16400               21848
<SECURITIES>                                               0                   0                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                         760130              682981              671112
<ALLOWANCES>                                          113166               37985               47149
<INVENTORY>                                           513599              464604              443259
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     1320779             1229254             1169988
<PP&E>                                                558266              575419              532678
<DEPRECIATION>                                        161488              154971              138249
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       2121581             2058153             1906309
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                 709064              573612              638889
<BONDS>                                               715345              735607              560912
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0                   0                   0
<PREFERRED>                                                0                   0                   0
<COMMON>                                              113573              113569              108830
<OTHER-SE>                                            533501              586609              543557
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         2121581             2058153             1906309
<SALES>                                              1606205             1004202              489040
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     1835004             1156537              566325
<CGS>                                                1063151              663943              319982
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        1063151              663943              319982
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           0                   0                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                      149528               44861               22928
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     48023               31529               15428
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                       (39065)              36402               22000
<INCOME-TAX>                                          (12983)              13362                8239
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   (26082)              23040               13761
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0                   0                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0                   0                   0
<CHANGES>                                                  0                   0                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                          (26082)              23040               13761
<EPS-BASIC>                                          (0.47)<F2>           0.42<F2>            0.25<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          (0.47)               0.41                0.25

<FN>
<F2>  Represents basic earnings per share
</FN>



</TABLE>