<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This Schedule Contains Summary Financial Information Extracted From The Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Income found on pages 22 and 23 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 76,754 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,358,033 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,507,112 <PP&E> 25,456 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,667,835 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 259,005 <BONDS> 826,007 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 558 <OTHER-SE> 548,878 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,667,835 <SALES> 2,155,049 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,176,941 <CGS> 1,765,610 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,765,610 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 11,917 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,240 <INCOME-PRETAX> 159,099 <INCOME-TAX> 65,719 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 93,380 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 93,380 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.75 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.56