<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-25-1996 <PERIOD-END> FEB-24-1996 <CASH> 28,904 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 350,107 <ALLOWANCES> 7,383 <INVENTORY> 273,829 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 683,540 <PP&E> 677,014 <DEPRECIATION> 383,633 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,274,681 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 339,253 <BONDS> 152,753 <COMMON> 215,192 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 443,098 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,274,681 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,278,120 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 743,536 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,548 <INCOME-PRETAX> 102,040 <INCOME-TAX> 30,612 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 71,428 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 71,428 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.14 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.14