<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999 DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 43,670 38,538 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 142,363 126,320 <ALLOWANCES> (860) (860) <INVENTORY> 490,628 482,049 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 656,346 590,713 <PP&E> 70,977 65,897 <DEPRECIATION> (13,999) (14,414) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,251,321 1,184,194 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 586,496 505,529 <BONDS> 238,933 288,265 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 33,551 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 2 2 <OTHER-SE> 339,267 341,648 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,251,321 1,184,194 <SALES> 1,948,330 3,343,147 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,948,330 3,343,147 <CGS> 1,695,464 2,916,248 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,901,500 3,291,291 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,396 4,800 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,255 31,462 <INCOME-PRETAX> 22,971 25,194 <INCOME-TAX> (10,292) (11,554) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 12,318 13,378 <DISCONTINUED> 0 (12,940) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 (1,235) <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,318 (797) <EPS-BASIC> 0.56 (0.04) <EPS-DILUTED> 0.53 (0.04)