<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1996 <CASH> 2,054,322 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 3,805,199 <ALLOWANCES> 250,000 <INVENTORY> 6,147,760 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 11,836,870 <PP&E> 12,464,530 <DEPRECIATION> 8,279,079 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 16,380,731 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,244,845 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 52,587 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 12,432,800 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 16,380,731 <SALES> 37,070,993 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 37,070,993 <CGS> 29,481,558 <TOTAL-COSTS> 29,481,558 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 55,355 <LOSS-PROVISION> 250,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 335,573 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,834,902 <INCOME-TAX> 1,347,245 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,487,657 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 294,430 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,782,087 <EPS-PRIMARY> .55 <EPS-DILUTED> .55