<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000945633
<NAME> UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1998             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          24,938                  24,938
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<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.54                    1.07
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