<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 48,185 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 462,427 <ALLOWANCES> 30,158 <INVENTORY> 959,308 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,512,922 <PP&E> 118,386 <DEPRECIATION> 52,991 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,631,171 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 942,040 <BONDS> 630,540 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 273 <OTHER-SE> 47,740 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,631,171 <SALES> 4,446,845 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 4,446,845 <CGS> 4,228,226 <TOTAL-COSTS> 4,228,226 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 143,608 <LOSS-PROVISION> 8,383 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,692 <INCOME-PRETAX> 50,319 <INCOME-TAX> 19,626 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 30,693 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 30,693 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.29 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.27