<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 1998 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 18,967 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 340,739 <ALLOWANCES> 11,193 <INVENTORY> 337,629 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 695,745 <PP&E> 155,830 <DEPRECIATION> 69,183 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 961,488 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 291,002 <BONDS> 396,971 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,258 <OTHER-SE> 253,247 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 961,488 <SALES> 1,699,813 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,699,813 <CGS> 1,435,389 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,435,389 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 203,511 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19,111 <INCOME-PRETAX> 41,802 <INCOME-TAX> 16,073 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 21,351 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,351 <EPS-PRIMARY> .81 <EPS-DILUTED> .72