<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AND THE INCOME STATEMENT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE EPS PRIMARY NUMBER BELOW REFLECTS THE BASIC
EARNINGS PER SHARE AS REQUIRED BY FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NUMBER 128.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         454,451                 621,698
<SECURITIES>                                    47,679                  46,440
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,752,644               3,152,671
<ALLOWANCES>                                    40,107                  52,161
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             3,626,997               4,292,005
<PP&E>                                         572,316                 661,850
<DEPRECIATION>                                 329,272                 378,570
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,250,640               6,204,733
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        3,402,992               4,062,777
<BONDS>                                        315,459                 201,847
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                        13,892                  14,537
<OTHER-SE>                                     906,455               1,232,498
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,250,640               6,204,733
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,237,613               2,609,111
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,960,977               2,249,776
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              36,347                  37,819
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                276,636                 359,335
<INCOME-TAX>                                   114,142                 150,846
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            153,734                 197,355
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   153,734                 197,355
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.21                    1.49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.17                    1.44