<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         3,891,400
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     969,600
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               5,270,400
<CASH>                                          23,300
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             317,500
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         259,600
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,559,600
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              2,146,600
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                          1,980,100
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                775,900
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        72,300
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,063,600
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 7,559,600
<PREMIUMS>                                   4,189,500
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            265,000
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              98,500
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  45,300
<BENEFITS>                                   2,967,500
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    607,800
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           336,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                578,500
<INCOME-TAX>                                   178,500
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            400,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   400,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     5.56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     5.31
<RESERVE-OPEN>                               1,532,900
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                          3,070,800
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                            (103,300)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                           1,971,500
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               743,600
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                              1,867,500
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                      (103,300)