<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>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-28-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             MAR-02-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-30-1997
<CASH>                                          39,920
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  533,607
<ALLOWANCES>                                    14,567
<INVENTORY>                                    201,354
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               874,715
<PP&E>                                         404,657
<DEPRECIATION>                                 124,077
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,906,965
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          462,935
<BONDS>                                        626,216
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            26
<OTHER-SE>                                     732,577
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,906,965
<SALES>                                      1,854,976
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,854,976
<CGS>                                        1,418,524
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  376,380
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              19,194
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 40,878
<INCOME-TAX>                                    17,331
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             24,589
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,589
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .18