<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-27-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-30-1995 <PERIOD-END> APR-28-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 6,551 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 130,755 <ALLOWANCES> 6,770 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 139,727 <PP&E> 31,875 <DEPRECIATION> 21,439 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 203,126 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 77,712 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 224 <OTHER-SE> 81,308 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 203,126 <SALES> 461,898 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 461,898 <CGS> 363,394 <TOTAL-COSTS> 363,394 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 79,224 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,115 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 272 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,893 <INCOME-TAX> 6,889 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,004 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,004 <EPS-PRIMARY> .46 <EPS-DILUTED> .45