<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This Schedule Contains Summary Financial Information Extracted From The
     Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Income found
     on pages 14 and 15 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September
     30, 1996, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
     statements.
</LEGEND>
                                              
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 Oct-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          32,467
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    345,283
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               377,750
<PP&E>                                           5,631 
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 402,913
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           55,402
<BONDS>                                        169,873
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           324
<OTHER-SE>                                     177,314
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   402,913
<SALES>                                        547,336
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               547,336
<CGS>                                          449,054
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  449,054
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,474
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 44,432
<INCOME-TAX>                                    17,053
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             27,379
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,379
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0