<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF HUGHES SUPPLY, INC. AS OF JULY 31, 1996, AND THE RELATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000049029 <NAME> HUGHES SUPPLY, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1996 <CASH> 543 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 194,907 <ALLOWANCES> 7,193 <INVENTORY> 172,609 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 382,326 <PP&E> 129,031 <DEPRECIATION> 65,454 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 536,475 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 137,564 <BONDS> 158,176 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,726 <OTHER-SE> 228,990 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 536,475 <SALES> 678,516 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 678,516 <CGS> 539,432 <TOTAL-COSTS> 539,432 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 114,696 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,662 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,854 <INCOME-PRETAX> 21,276 <INCOME-TAX> 8,447 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 12,829 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,829 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.51 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.51