<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
       
<S>                                              <C>                       <C>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    YEAR                      YEAR                     YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                FEB-28-1998               FEB-28-1997              FEB-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                     FEB-28-1998               FEB-28-1997              FEB-28-1996
<CASH>                                              48779000                  14959000                 16017000
<SECURITIES>                                               0                         0                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      453071000                 638079000                573683000
<ALLOWANCES>                                        60306000                  41120000                 54714000
<INVENTORY>                                        542868000                 433277000                293191000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  1293548000                1134057000                895316000
<PP&E>                                             571477000                 497132000                323647000
<DEPRECIATION>                                     173326000                 130383000                107588000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    2097513000                1837158000               1288960000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              702151000                 583920000                367467000
<BONDS>                                            715271000                 561489000                352631000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0                         0                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                0                         0                        0
<COMMON>                                           117616000                 108828000                 97143000
<OTHER-SE>                                         491538000                 533793000                421840000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                      2097513000                1837158000               1288960000
<SALES>                                           2160223000                1342208000               1138506000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  2469736000                1593119000               1359349000
<CGS>                                             1451560000                 876142000                752317000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                     1451560000                 876142000                752317000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           0                         0                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   181645000                  80908000                 65379000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  67283000                  47800000                 40767000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    (84387000)                 61900000                 64525000
<INCOME-TAX>                                       (29244000)                 21715000                 23021000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                (55143000)                 40185000                 41504000
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0                         0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0                         0                        0
<CHANGES>                                                  0                         0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                       (55143000)                 40185000                 41504000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          (0.98)<F1>                 0.81<F1>                 0.85<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          (0.98)                     0.80                     0.84

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

</TABLE>