<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>                  SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       9-MOS
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                         1
<CASH>                             87,583
<SECURITIES>                            0
<RECEIVABLES>                   1,421,498
<ALLOWANCES>                       52,341
<INVENTORY>                     1,325,417
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                2,867,120
<PP&E>                            271,915
<DEPRECIATION>                    134,128
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  3,835,358
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           1,283,587
<BONDS>                           930,478
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0
<PREFERRED>                             0
<COMMON>                          102,950
<OTHER-SE>                      1,358,163
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    3,835,358
<SALES>                         6,184,495
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                6,184,495
<CGS>                           5,313,003
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   5,918,316
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                   15,427  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 59,739
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   206,871
<INCOME-TAX>                       87,204
<INCOME-CONTINUING>               119,667
<DISCONTINUED>                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         0
<CHANGES>                               0
<NET-INCOME>                      113,498
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        1.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                        1.16