<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 83,925 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 490,626 <ALLOWANCES> 19,192 <INVENTORY> 795,122 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,385,286 <PP&E> 111,167 <DEPRECIATION> 45,640 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,502,336 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 964,866 <BONDS> 532,335 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 271 <OTHER-SE> (6,316) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,502,336 <SALES> 5,596,578 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 5,596,578 <CGS> 5,317,065 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,317,065 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 196,944 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,232 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 30,966 <INCOME-PRETAX> 51,603 <INCOME-TAX> 20,322 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 31,281 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,982) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 29,299 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.21 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.21