<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-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          93,820
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  1,467,281
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,625,677
<PP&E>                                          29,841
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,795,763
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          257,807
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           615
<OTHER-SE>                                     640,466
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,795,763
<SALES>                                        652,828
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               660,630
<CGS>                                          534,152
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  534,152
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,536
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 54,266
<INCOME-TAX>                                    21,571
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             32,695
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    32,695
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.52