<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
    This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
     Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Income found
     on pages 3 and 4 of the Company's Form 10-Q for the year-to-date, and is
     qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
                        
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START>                                 Oct-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                         29,607
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0 
<INVENTORY>                                   339,411 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              369,018
<PP&E>                                          5,714
<DEPRECIATION>                                      0                          
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                390,678
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          51,390
<BONDS>                                       171,014 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                          324                                   
<OTHER-SE>                                    167,950
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  390,678
<SALES>                                       378,393 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              378,393
<CGS>                                         310,788
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 310,788
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              1,157 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                28,820
<INCOME-TAX>                                   10,849 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            17,971                      
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   17,971
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     .58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0