<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF INCOME OF MTS, INCORPORATED IN THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO WHICH THIS FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE IS AN EXHIBIT AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1998             JUL-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1997             AUG-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1998             JUL-31-1997
<CASH>                                          10,685                   6,607
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   16,726                  17,334
<ALLOWANCES>                                       452                     420
<INVENTORY>                                    267,693                 282,015
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               312,102                 318,830
<PP&E>                                         346,025                 343,174
<DEPRECIATION>                                 168,262                 152,817
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 533,455                 544,578
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          165,497                 359,071
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             6                       6
<OTHER-SE>                                     128,609                 134,025
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   533,455                 544,578
<SALES>                                        771,403                 991,810
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               771,403                 991,810
<CGS>                                          522,632                 669,279
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  745,010                 958,683
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   730                   9,287
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              10,422                  14,298
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 15,241                   9,542
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,407                   4,543
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              8,834                   4,999
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                   1,236
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,695                   3,539
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    8.695                   3.539
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    8.695                   3.539