<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000075252
<NAME> GINA MCKINNON
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                             238
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  169,608
<ALLOWANCES>                                     6,286
<INVENTORY>                                    301,763
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               490,204
<PP&E>                                          66,655
<DEPRECIATION>                                  38,496
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 709,003
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          302,547
<BONDS>                                        150,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    115,000
<COMMON>                                        64,076
<OTHER-SE>                                      70,019
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   709,003
<SALES>                                      1,526,345
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,526,345
<CGS>                                        1,373,202
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,496,730
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 3,353
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    43
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,706
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 18,513
<INCOME-TAX>                                     7,749
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             10,764
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,764
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.26