<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 266,800 <SECURITIES> 7,800 <RECEIVABLES> 1,249,700 <ALLOWANCES> 65,700 <INVENTORY> 2,234,700 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 3,739,600 <PP&E> 750,900 <DEPRECIATION> 391,200 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,532,300 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,869,000 <BONDS> 442,100 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 400 <OTHER-SE> 1,006,700 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,532,300 <SALES> 8,888,100 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 8,888,100 <CGS> 8,181,400 <TOTAL-COSTS> 8,911,300 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 21,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 33,800 <INCOME-PRETAX> (23,200) <INCOME-TAX> 8,500 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (31,700) <DISCONTINUED> 127,900 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 96,200 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.17 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.16