<ARTICLE>                           5
<MULTIPLIER>                        1,000
                                    
       
                                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    9-MOS                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             DEC-31-1998            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                  SEP-30-1998            SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                             55,850                 19,183
<SECURITIES>                            0                      0
<RECEIVABLES>                   1,287,189              1,274,089
<ALLOWANCES>                      190,658                188,142
<INVENTORY>                       326,682                316,587
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                1,661,405              1,613,924
<PP&E>                            902,809                808,269
<DEPRECIATION>                    583,914                547,988
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  3,925,643              3,812,496
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           1,500,971              1,340,426
<BONDS>                                 0                      0
<COMMON>                          102,919                102,919
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  14                     14
<PREFERRED>                             0                      0
<OTHER-SE>                              0                      0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    3,925,643              3,812,496
<SALES>                         2,790,967              2,633,327
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                2,790,967              2,633,327
<CGS>                           2,272,033              2,264,587
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   2,272,033              2,264,587
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        0                      0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                   58,084                 64,296
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 38,770                 40,917
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   438,336                359,543
<INCOME-TAX>                      170,951                135,902
<INCOME-CONTINUING>               267,385                223,641
<DISCONTINUED>                          0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                     8,716                      0
<CHANGES>                               0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                      258,669                223,641
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        1.31<F1>               1.13<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                        1.30<F2>               1.12<F2>
<FN>
<F1>      Amount reported is EPS-BASIC.
<F2>      Amount reported is EPS-DILUTED.
</FN>