<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          40,362
<SECURITIES>                                        0  
<RECEIVABLES>                                       0  
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0  
<INVENTORY>                                    653,157
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               693,519
<PP&E>                                          12,892
<DEPRECIATION>                                      0 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 765,077
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           99,777
<BONDS>                                             0  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0 
<PREFERRED>                                         0 
<COMMON>                                           374
<OTHER-SE>                                     272,848
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   765,077
<SALES>                                        231,152
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               231,152
<CGS>                                          187,212
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  187,212
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,169
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 17,794
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,960
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             10,834
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0 
<CHANGES>                                           0 
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,834
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .28