<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE REGISTRANT'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE 13 WEEKS ENDED APRIL 3, 1998 AND APRIL 4, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDING IN SUCH REPORTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000052795 <NAME> ANIXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-01-1999 JAN-02-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-03-1998 JAN-04-1997 <PERIOD-END> APR-03-1998 APR-04-1997 <CASH> 12,500 9,200 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 559,200 480,400 <ALLOWANCES> 11,600 9,000 <INVENTORY> 429,900 383,400 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,012,100 884,800 <PP&E> 162,400 133,100 <DEPRECIATION> 94,600 72,200 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,396,800 1,261,600 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 405,000 337,600 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 47,300 47,300 <OTHER-SE> 453,400 371,100 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,396,800 1,261,600 <SALES> 748,500 658,700 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 748,500 658,700 <CGS> 563,400 495,900 <TOTAL-COSTS> 720,700 633,600 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,100 7,400 <INCOME-PRETAX> 28,100 19,900 <INCOME-TAX> 11,700 8,800 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 16,400 11,100 <DISCONTINUED> 11,100 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 27,500 11,100 <EPS-PRIMARY> .58 .23 <EPS-DILUTED> .58 .23