<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1997 <CASH> 112,948 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 3,723,710 <ALLOWANCES> 130,000 <INVENTORY> 8,737,149 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 13,467,923 <PP&E> 13,080,881 <DEPRECIATION> 8,858,705 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 18,118,398 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 3,768,483 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 53,038 <OTHER-SE> 12,648,141 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 18,118,398 <SALES> 7,792,006 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 7,792,006 <CGS> 6,702,763 <TOTAL-COSTS> 6,702,763 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (30,806) <LOSS-PROVISION> 130,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 112,799 <INCOME-PRETAX> (264,512) <INCOME-TAX> (82,261) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (182,251) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (182,251) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.03) <EPS-DILUTED> (.03)