<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 629 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 204,265 <ALLOWANCES> 6,277 <INVENTORY> 328,739 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 550,050 <PP&E> 70,183 <DEPRECIATION> 45,310 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 765,003 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 327,421 <BONDS> 150,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 132,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 65,064 <OTHER-SE> 84,874 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 765,003 <SALES> 1,596,928 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,596,928 <CGS> 1,432,308 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,563,078 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 15,121 <LOSS-PROVISION> 224 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,803 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,702 <INCOME-TAX> 4,798 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,904 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,904 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.15 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.15