<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 3/21/00 10Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000 SEP-30-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 OCT-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 MAR-31-2000 <CASH> 49,240 0 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 642,485 0 <ALLOWANCES> 28,981 0 <INVENTORY> 1,272,795 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,969,070 0 <PP&E> 134,223 0 <DEPRECIATION> 70,823 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,101,696 0 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,409,526 0 <BONDS> 469,398 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 580 0 <OTHER-SE> 213,212 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,101,696 0 <SALES> 2,842,203 5,681,585 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,842,203 5,681,585 <CGS> 2,710,797 5,430,252 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,710,797 5,430,252 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 80,292 154,484 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,912 2,615 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,922 22,820 <INCOME-PRETAX> 39,192 74,029 <INCOME-TAX> 14,893 28,131 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 24,299 45,898 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 24,299 45,898 <EPS-BASIC> .47 .89 <EPS-DILUTED> .47 .89