<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 10-K OF
CORPORATE EXPRESS, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    YEAR                   11-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-30-1999             JAN-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1998             MAR-02-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-30-1999             JAN-31-1998
<CASH>                                          14,831                  32,812
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  601,569                 518,096
<ALLOWANCES>                                    11,772                  11,357
<INVENTORY>                                    285,754                 251,108
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,090,393                 958,329
<PP&E>                                         325,027                 296,580
<DEPRECIATION>                                 100,265                  71,380
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,415,590               2,266,991
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          651,325                 492,352
<BONDS>                                      1,319,938                 842,206
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            28                      28
<OTHER-SE>                                     444,299                 932,405
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,415,590               2,266,991
<SALES>                                      3,752,591               2,837,111
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,752,591               2,837,111
<CGS>                                        2,879,015               2,155,289
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  780,870                 577,033
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              75,302                  34,014
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 23,616                  71,239
<INCOME-TAX>                                    19,451                  31,509
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,943                  41,049
<DISCONTINUED>                                (69,652)                   3,355
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (5,581)                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (73,290)                  44,404
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  ($0.65)                   $0.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  ($0.64)                   $0.32