<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>                                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                          61,973
<SECURITIES>                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      0
<ALLOWANCES>                                       0
<INVENTORY>                                    775,752
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               837,725
<PP&E>                                          20,617
<DEPRECIATION>                                     0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 932,634
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          122,796
<BONDS>                                            0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                           375
<OTHER-SE>                                     284,868
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   932,634
<SALES>                                        508,603
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               508,603
<CGS>                                          414,607
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  414,607
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   0  
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,641
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 37,029
<INCOME-TAX>                                    14,455
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             22,574
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0  
<CHANGES>                                          0  
<NET-INCOME>                                    22,574
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .59