<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
       
<S>                                              <C>                       <C>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS                     6-MOS                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                FEB-28-1997               FEB-28-1997              FEB-28-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                     NOV-30-1996               AUG-31-1996              MAY-31-1996
<CASH>                                               9858000                  14080000                 10640000
<SECURITIES>                                               0                         0                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      709907000                 623139000                611660000
<ALLOWANCES>                                        92476000                  64944000                 70134000
<INVENTORY>                                        345953000                 310067000                321125000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  1042558000                 952974000                945672000
<PP&E>                                             382955000                 356327000                335930000
<DEPRECIATION>                                     121112000                 116101000                111535000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    1517258000                1380208000               1352491000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              477967000                 343401000                429957000
<BONDS>                                            448531000                 454761000                344991000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0                         0                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                0                         0                        0
<COMMON>                                            97246000                  97245000                 97190000
<OTHER-SE>                                         441909000                 435730000                431086000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                      1517258000                1380208000               1352491000
<SALES>                                            939406000                 587680000                300691000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  1114912000                 701437000                357914000
<CGS>                                              613032000                 384920000                193714000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      613032000                 384920000                193714000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           0                         0                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    60027000                  37023000                 18943000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  33415000                  21565000                 10591000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     45993000                  31292000                 19208000
<INCOME-TAX>                                        16384000                  11175000                  6837000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 29609000                  20117000                 12371000
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0                         0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0                         0                        0
<CHANGES>                                                  0                         0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                        29609000                  20117000                 12371000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           0.61<F1>                  0.41<F1>                 0.25<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           0.60                      0.41                     0.25

<FN>
<F1>  Item consists of basic earnings per share
</FN>

        

</TABLE>