<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CORPORATE
EXPRESS CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-01-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             MAR-03-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-01-1997
<CASH>                                          54,499
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  507,203
<ALLOWANCES>                                    13,004
<INVENTORY>                                    187,558
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               849,410
<PP&E>                                         370,622
<DEPRECIATION>                                 106,891
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,843,977
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          455,757
<BONDS>                                        621,705
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            25
<OTHER-SE>                                     693,582
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,843,977
<SALES>                                      3,196,056
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,196,056
<CGS>                                        2,417,746
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  677,820
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              26,949
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 73,785
<INCOME-TAX>                                    33,649
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             41,996
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    40,281<F1>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.31
<FN>
<F1>NET INCOME ABOVE REPRESENTS PRO FORMA NET INCOME AFTER ADJUSTING FOR PRO FORMA
INCOME TAX EFFECTS. SEE NOTE 13 TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</FN>