<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated financial statements of IKON Office Solutions, Inc. and
subsidiaries and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                       MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                              18,363,000
<SECURITIES>                                                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      864,380,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                        51,311,000
<INVENTORY>                                        511,869,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 2,335,131,000
<PP&E>                                             769,373,000<F1>
<DEPRECIATION>                                     397,044,000<F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   5,780,166,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            1,368,639,000
<BONDS>                                          2,333,389,000
<COMMON>                                           677,681,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                        290,170,000
<OTHER-SE>                                         611,863,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     5,780,166,000
<SALES>                                          1,515,048,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 2,805,846,000
<CGS>                                              969,747,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    1,618,094,000<F3>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 1,036,486,000<F4>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    14,111,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  33,272,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    117,994,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                        50,719,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 67,275,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                        67,275,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0.43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.43
<FN>
<F1> Includes equipment on operating leases, at cost, of $271,851,000.
<F2> Includes accumulated depreciation for equipment on operating leases of
     $164,323,000.
<F3> Includes Finance Subsidiaries interest of $63,705,000.
<F4> Represents selling, general and administrative expenses and transformation
     costs.
</FN>