<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated financial statements of Alco Standard Corporation and subsidiaries
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1994
<CASH>                                     $33,127,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                            1,001,840,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                32,138,000
<INVENTORY>                                745,460,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         1,880,286,000
<PP&E>                                     662,735,000
<DEPRECIATION>                             313,584,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           3,777,327,000<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    1,172,160,000
<BONDS>                                    437,286,000
<COMMON>                                   555,446,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                200,415,000<F1>
<OTHER-SE>                                 619,217,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             3,777,327,000<F3>
<SALES>                                  2,160,791,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         2,181,601,000
<CGS>                                    1,606,209,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            1,615,828,000<F4>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             5,526,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          11,950,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             74,549,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                29,080,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         45,469,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                45,469,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.76
<FN>
<F1>Redeemable solely at the Company's option. 
<F2>Includes Finance Subsidiaries assets (primarily lease receivables) of
$659,006,000.
<F3>Includes Finance Subsidiaries liabilities (primarily debt) of $561,234,000
<F4>Includes Finance Subsidiaries interest of $9,619,000.
</FN>