<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial invormation 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> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 54,693 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,706,514 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,840,170 <PP&E> 35,765 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,102,772 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 303,363 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 642 <OTHER-SE> 727,959 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,102,772 <SALES> 1,343,428 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,359,711 <CGS> 1,104,471 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,104,471 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,293 <INCOME-PRETAX> 108,915 <INCOME-TAX> 42,800 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 66,115 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 66,115 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.08 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.05