<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000355999
<NAME> UNITED STATIONERS INC
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1999             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999             JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                                          16,743                  16,743
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  235,711                 235,711
<ALLOWANCES>                                    11,647                  11,647
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<PP&E>                                         280,363                 280,363
<DEPRECIATION>                                 109,399                 109,399
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<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                         3,721                   3,721
<OTHER-SE>                                     354,486                 354,486
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,144,362               1,144,362
<SALES>                                        800,753               1,625,014
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               800,753               1,625,014
<CGS>                                          672,464               1,362,857
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  672,464               1,362,857
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                90,789                 184,970
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,191                   3,349
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,643                  15,110
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 29,857                  62,077
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,540                  26,072
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<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
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<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    17,317                  36,005
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.51                    1.02
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