<ARTICLE>                           5
<MULTIPLIER>                        1,000

       
                                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    3-MOS                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             DEC-31-1998            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                  MAR-31-1998            MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                              1,721                      4
<SECURITIES>                            0                      0
<RECEIVABLES>                     974,756                892,993
<ALLOWANCES>                      168,443                153,243
<INVENTORY>                       323,603                308,032
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                1,332,445              1,262,921
<PP&E>                            847,002                833,709
<DEPRECIATION>                    579,002                535,300
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  3,580,968              3,552,077
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           1,081,496              1,153,686
<BONDS>                                 0                      0
<COMMON>                          102,919                102,919
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  14                     14
<PREFERRED>                             0                      0
<OTHER-SE>                              0                      0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    3,580,968              3,552,077
<SALES>                           703,420                652,935
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  703,420                583,851
<CGS>                             663,133                652,935
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     663,133                620,200
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        0                      0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                   18,309                 21,526
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 12,102                 11,419
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    33,014                 24,977
<INCOME-TAX>                       12,875                  9,991
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                20,139                 14,986
<DISCONTINUED>                          0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         0                      0
<CHANGES>                               0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                       20,239                 14,986
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        0.10<F1>               0.07<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                        0.10<F2>               0.07<F2>
<FN>
<F1>      Amount reported is EPS-BASIC.
<F2>      Amount reported is EPS-DILUTED.
</FN>