<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> FEB-28-1999 <CASH> 110,456 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 5,698,280 <ALLOWANCES> 225,295 <INVENTORY> 12,840,282 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 19,625,850 <PP&E> 16,459,473 <DEPRECIATION> 9,368,381 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 26,801,751 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 11,229,152 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 53,038 <OTHER-SE> 12,142,019 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 26,801,751 <SALES> 28,022,626 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 28,022,626 <CGS> 23,738,102 <TOTAL-COSTS> 23,738,102 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (17,051) <LOSS-PROVISION> 225,295 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 354,592 <INCOME-PRETAX> 620,885 <INCOME-TAX> 224,749 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 396,136 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 396,136 <EPS-PRIMARY> .07 <EPS-DILUTED> .07