<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM AMERISOURCE HEALTH CORP. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995 <CASH> 57,418 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 340,049 <ALLOWANCES> 12,292 <INVENTORY> 547,837 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 948,519 <PP&E> 80,035 <DEPRECIATION> 33,529 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,014,586 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 621,249 <BONDS> 509,155 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 255 <OTHER-SE> (124,142) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,014,586 <SALES> 1,282,513 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,282,513 <CGS> 1,212,788 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,212,788 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> (145) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,132 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,259 <INCOME-TAX> 6,409 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,850 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,850 <EPS-PRIMARY> .39 <EPS-DILUTED> .39