<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000945633 <NAME> UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 12,367 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 304,849 <ALLOWANCES> 7,071 <INVENTORY> 511,555 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 850,687 <PP&E> 237,242 <DEPRECIATION> (72,699) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,148,021 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 399,238 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,591 <OTHER-SE> 221,717 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,148,021 <SALES> 2,558,135 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,558,135 <CGS> 2,112,204 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,112,204 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 375,700 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,502 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 53,511 <INCOME-PRETAX> 16,720 <INCOME-TAX> 8,532 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,188 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (5,884) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,304 <EPS-PRIMARY> .06 <EPS-DILUTED> .05