<ARTICLE>                               5
<LEGEND>                      THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION     
                              EXTRACTED FROM THE 1998 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS     
                              ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.      


<MULTIPLIER>                        1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S.DOLLARS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                 JAN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                  MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       3-MOS
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                         1
<CASH>                             63,233
<SECURITIES>                            0
<RECEIVABLES>                   1,228,881
<ALLOWANCES>                       43,621
<INVENTORY>                     1,342,306
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                2,659,763
<PP&E>                            232,096
<DEPRECIATION>                    116,997
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  3,580,078
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           1,112,229
<BONDS>                           918,811
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0
<PREFERRED>                             0
<COMMON>                          102,950
<OTHER-SE>                      1,293,129
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    3,580,078
<SALES>                         2,025,760
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                2,025,760
<CGS>                           1,730,881
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   1,933,802
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                    2,558                        
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 18,677
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    74,182
<INCOME-TAX>                       30,563
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                43,619
<DISCONTINUED>                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         0
<CHANGES>                               0
<NET-INCOME>                       41,945
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        0.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                        0.43