<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> FEB-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> AUG-01-1998 <CASH> 2,534 <SECURITIES> 14,850 <RECEIVABLES> 195,097 <ALLOWANCES> 3,578 <INVENTORY> 634,805 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 856,800 <PP&E> 1,011,736 <DEPRECIATION> 180,620 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,748,949 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 346,322 <BONDS> 312,659 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,581 <OTHER-SE> 1,013,844 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,748,949 <SALES> 1,503,318 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,503,318 <CGS> 993,272 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,397,182 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,260 <INCOME-PRETAX> 95,876 <INCOME-TAX> 37,680 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 58,196 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 58,196 <EPS-BASIC> 0.37 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.36