<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This Schedule Conatins Summary Financial Information Extracted from Itel's
Consolidated Financial Statements and is Qualified in its Entirety by Reference
to Such Financial Statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           JAN-3-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-29-1996
<CASH>                                          15,600
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  401,700
<ALLOWANCES>                                     9,000
<INVENTORY>                                    417,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               846,400
<PP&E>                                         108,400
<DEPRECIATION>                                  52,200
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,236,600
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          311,900
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        50,800
<OTHER-SE>                                     397,800
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,236,600
<SALES>                                        567,400
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               567,400
<CGS>                                          421,600
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  544,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,500
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 18,700
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             10,300
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,300
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .20