<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
REGISTRANT'S 1998 ANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-28-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1998
<CASH>                                          90,968
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  179,525
<ALLOWANCES>                                    14,096
<INVENTORY>                                  3,061,211
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             3,378,308
<PP&E>                                       3,061,160
<DEPRECIATION>                                 890,011
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,655,346
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,770,931
<BONDS>                                      2,551,418
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       258,215
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,658,249
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 7,655,346
<SALES>                                     11,375,105
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            11,375,105
<CGS>                                        8,290,888
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                8,290,888
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             159,752
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                530,041
<INCOME-TAX>                                   213,606
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            316,435
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   316,435
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.26<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.22<F1>
<FN>
<F1> Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128
     "Earnings Per Share" was adopted in the year ended February 28, 1998.
</FN>