<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 580 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 192,976 <ALLOWANCES> 6,637 <INVENTORY> 320,558 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 518,444 <PP&E> 77,326 <DEPRECIATION> 50,612 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 790,573 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 327,194 <BONDS> 150,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 132,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 65,388 <OTHER-SE> 109,931 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 790,573 <SALES> 2,325,361 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,325,361 <CGS> 2,080,988 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,274,105 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 7,637 <LOSS-PROVISION> 656 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,833 <INCOME-PRETAX> 34,130 <INCOME-TAX> 15,017 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,113 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,113 <EPS-BASIC> 0.59 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.57