<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
REGISTRANT'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE 39 WEEKS ENDED OCTOBER 2, 1998 AND OCTOBER 3,
1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH STATEMENTS INC.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>0000052795
<NAME>ANIXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-01-1999 JAN-02-1998
<PERIOD-START> JAN-03-1998 JAN-04-1997
<PERIOD-END> OCT-02-1998 OCT-03-1997
<CASH> 15,800 15,500
<SECURITIES> 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 642,600 552,100
<ALLOWANCES> 13,800 10,000
<INVENTORY> 463,100 411,400
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,135,900 988,000
<PP&E> 174,700 148,600
<DEPRECIATION> 104,100 84,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,482,000 1,406,900
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 455,300 396,100
<BONDS> 0 0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0
<COMMON> 42,700 47,500
<OTHER-SE> 377,200 403,300
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,482,000 1,408,900
<SALES> 2,336,400 2,067,800
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,336,400 2,067,800
<CGS> 1,761,400 1,557,000
<TOTAL-COSTS> 2,245,800 1,987,500
<OTHER-EXPENSES> (18,100) (2,800)
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 25,100 24,200
<INCOME-PRETAX> 83,600 58,900
<INCOME-TAX> 34,800 26,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 48,800 32,800
<DISCONTINUED> 13,200 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 62,000 32,800
<EPS-PRIMARY> 1.35 0.69
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.34 0.69