<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-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                          56,358
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                    577,970
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               634,328
<PP&E>                                          12,783
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 700,067
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           89,890
<BONDS>                                        147,402
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           372
<OTHER-SE>                                     249,585
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   700,067
<SALES>                                        554,073
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               554,073
<CGS>                                          453,729
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  453,729
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,331
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 37,881
<INCOME-TAX>                                    14,631
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             23,250
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,250
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0