<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000355999
<NAME> UNITED STATIONERS INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1999             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999             SEP-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1                       1
<CASH>                                          12,601                  12,601
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  270,025                 270,025
<ALLOWANCES>                                    12,607                  12,607
<INVENTORY>                                    536,841                 536,841
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               839,621                 839,621
<PP&E>                                               0                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,206,279               1,206,279
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          501,457                 501,457
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                         3,721                   3,721
<OTHER-SE>                                     377,107                 377,107
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,206,279               1,206,279
<SALES>                                        877,802               2,502,816
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               877,802               2,502,816
<CGS>                                          733,752               2,096,609
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  733,752               2,096,609
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                98,775                 283,745
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,177                   5,526
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,853                  21,963
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 38,422                 100,499
<INCOME-TAX>                                    16,129                  42,201
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             22,293                  58,298
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    22,293                  58,298
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.66                    1.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.65                    1.64