<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000945633 <NAME> UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 17584 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 263227 <ALLOWANCES> 7373 <INVENTORY> 452989 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 751591 <PP&E> 226650 <DEPRECIATION> 56864 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1065172 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 348322 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 20240 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1153 <OTHER-SE> 83216 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1065172 <SALES> 635021 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 635021 <CGS> 526279 <TOTAL-COSTS> 526279 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 76704 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1586 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14661 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17377 <INCOME-TAX> 7368 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10009 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10009 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.65 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.65