<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIODS INDICATED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-26-2000 FEB-27-1999 <PERIOD-START> FEB-28-1999 MAR-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> AUG-28-1999 AUG-29-1998 <CASH> 473,444 491,632 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 178,492 140,714 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 1,287,646 1,167,966 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,064,416 1,877,894 <PP&E> 876,106 608,331 <DEPRECIATION> 353,286 208,137 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,628,183 2,226,669 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,398,243 1,299,892 <BONDS> 25,690 35,295 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 20,527 10,077 <OTHER-SE> 1,113,980 827,367 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,628,183 2,226,669 <SALES> 5,072,071 4,116,149 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 5,072,071 4,116,149 <CGS> 4,079,549 3,361,220 <TOTAL-COSTS> 4,079,549 3,361,220 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 831,215 663,708 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (8,689) 3,505 <INCOME-PRETAX> 169,996 87,716 <INCOME-TAX> 65,120 33,784 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 104,876 53,932 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 104,876 53,932 <EPS-BASIC> .51 .27 <EPS-DILUTED> .49 .26