<ARTICLE>                     5
       
                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                         6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               FEB-28-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                    AUG-31-1998
<CASH>                                             35166000
<SECURITIES>                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     415745000
<ALLOWANCES>                                       61003000
<INVENTORY>                                       539648000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 1272620000
<PP&E>                                            571656000
<DEPRECIATION>                                    182480000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   2070056000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             794839000
<BONDS>                                           583926000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                               0
<COMMON>                                          118154000
<OTHER-SE>                                        503078000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     2070056000
<SALES>                                          1190155000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 1343946000
<CGS>                                             799263000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                     799263000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   45693000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 38126000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    29633000
<INCOME-TAX>                                       10681000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                18952000
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                       18952000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          0.32 <F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          0.32

<FN>
<F1>  Item consists of basic earnings per share
</FN>