<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000924146
<NAME> BIG FLOWER PRESS
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             JUN-30-1997             MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                           3,804                   4,698                   4,640
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  112,707                  96,882                  89,707
<ALLOWANCES>                                    10,116                   9,273                   8,051
<INVENTORY>                                     40,136                  36,104                  33,086
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               170,535                 153,230                 142,641
<PP&E>                                         452,468                 413,818                 393,570
<DEPRECIATION>                                 127,435                 107,558                  96,227
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 814,507                 756,231                 735,096
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          194,245                 171,531                 155,546
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           185                     185                     185
<OTHER-SE>                                      91,898                  96,913                  95,607
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   814,507                 756,231                 735,096
<SALES>                                        955,918                 614,339                 297,501
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               955,918                 614,339                 297,501
<CGS>                                          752,981                 484,154                 235,245
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  752,981                 484,154                 235,245
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               146,496                  96,303                  47,907
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,260                   1,726                     788
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              30,586                  20,476                  10,265
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 23,595                  11,680                   3,296
<INCOME-TAX>                                    11,461                   5,606                   1,615
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             12,134                   6,074                   1,681
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               (13,463)                 (2,959)                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (1,329)                   3,115                   1,681
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.02)                    0.17                    0.09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.02)                    0.16                    0.09
        

</TABLE>