<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Anixter International Inc.'s Consolidated Financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such finacial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-02-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-04-1997 <PERIOD-END> OCT-03-1997 <CASH> 15,500 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 552,100 <ALLOWANCES> 10,000 <INVENTORY> 411,400 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 988,000 <PP&E> 148,600 <DEPRECIATION> 84,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,406,900 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 396,100 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 47,500 <OTHER-SE> 408,500 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,406,900 <SALES> 2,067,800 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,067,800 <CGS> 1,557,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,987,500 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 23,600 <INCOME-PRETAX> 58,900 <INCOME-TAX> 26,100 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 32,800 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 32,800 <EPS-PRIMARY> .69 <EPS-DILUTED> .69