<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MSC
INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.'S AUGUST 26, 2000 FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-26-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-29-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-26-2000
<CASH>                                           3,209
<SECURITIES>                                     8,982
<RECEIVABLES>                                  102,616
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,779
<INVENTORY>                                    264,494
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               375,214
<PP&E>                                         157,369
<DEPRECIATION>                                  40,991
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<BONDS>                                              0
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<COMMON>                                            69
<OTHER-SE>                                     421,600
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<SALES>                                        792,874
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<INCOME-TAX>                                    35,191
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