<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000355999 <NAME> UNITED STATIONERS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-2000 JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 SEP-30-2000 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 1 <CASH> 22,525 22,525 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 356,259 356,259 <ALLOWANCES> 13,282 13,282 <INVENTORY> 597,484 597,484 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 987,334 987,334 <PP&E> 321,682 321,682 <DEPRECIATION> (135,623) (135,623) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,373,369 1,373,369 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 568,070 568,070 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 3,721 3,721 <OTHER-SE> 471,633 471,633 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,373,369 1,373,369 <SALES> 998,976 2,907,261 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 998,976 2,907,261 <CGS> 835,080 2,437,234 <TOTAL-COSTS> 835,080 2,437,234 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 112,849 327,591 <LOSS-PROVISION> 105 2,715 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,855 19,826 <INCOME-PRETAX> 44,192 122,610 <INCOME-TAX> 17,765 49,491 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 26,427 73,119 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 6,476 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 26,427 66,643 <EPS-BASIC> 0.77 1.95 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.76 1.91