<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 25,516 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 6,289 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 399,583 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0<F1> <PP&E> 11,120 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 476,416 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0<F1> <BONDS> 215,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 20 <COMMON> 93 <OTHER-SE> 183,254 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 476,416 <SALES> 376,949 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 376,949 <CGS> 323,111 <TOTAL-COSTS> 368,006 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (201) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,144 <INCOME-TAX> 3,520 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,624 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,624 <EPS-PRIMARY> .62 <EPS-DILUTED> .59 <FN> <F1>THE COMPANY PRESENTS A CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET. </FN>