<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains unaudited summary financial information extracted from
the consolidated financial statements of Central Newspapers, Inc. as of and for
the periods ended March 31, 1996, June 30, 1996, September 29, 1996 and
December 29, 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
statements.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>           3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>       DEC-29-1996             DEC-29-1996             DEC-29-1996             DEC-29-1996
<PERIOD-END>            MAR-31-1996             JUN-30-1996             SEP-29-1996             DEC-29-1996
<CASH>                        36205                   28245                   34088                   36149
<SECURITIES>                  48846                   44724                   34780                   25612
<RECEIVABLES>                 58224                   59510                   61326                   91661
<ALLOWANCES>                    792                    1085                    1300                    1638
<INVENTORY>                   10988                    9038                    8219                    8912
<CURRENT-ASSETS>             166406                  152942                  149219                  171462
<PP&E>                       486375                  500023                  507124                  512852
<DEPRECIATION>               195959                  204442                  211086                  215872
<TOTAL-ASSETS>               567740                  562996                  561187                  586972
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>         78719                   70053                   68682                   79139
<BONDS>                        7178                    7178                    4178                    2678
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>             0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                       0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                      20162                   22742                   21625                   24322
<OTHER-SE>                   344908                  347639                  350438                  363228
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 567740                  562996                  561187                  586972
<SALES>                      147896                  300613                  449631                  620315
<TOTAL-REVENUES>             147896                  300613                  449631                  620315
<CGS>                             0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                133597                  265763                  390486                  520456
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                  0                       0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                  0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              168                     405                     520                     618
<INCOME-PRETAX>               15892                   37641                   62739                  103868
<INCOME-TAX>                   6592                   15674                   25903                   42431
<INCOME-CONTINUING>            9809                   22806                   37871                   61534
<DISCONTINUED>                    0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                   0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                         0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                   9809                   22806                   37871                   61534
<EPS-PRIMARY>                   .37                     .85                    1.42                    2.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                   .36                     .84                    1.40                    2.28
        

</TABLE>