<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
       
<S>                                              <C>                       <C>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS                     6-MOS                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                FEB-28-1998               FEB-28-1998              FEB-28-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                     NOV-30-1997               AUG-31-1997              MAY-31-1997
<CASH>                                              17370000                  16400000                 21848000
<SECURITIES>                                               0                         0                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      760130000                 682981000                671112000
<ALLOWANCES>                                       113166000                  37985000                 47149000
<INVENTORY>                                        513599000                 464604000                443259000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  1320779000                1229254000               1169988000
<PP&E>                                             558266000                 575419000                532678000
<DEPRECIATION>                                     161488000                 154971000                138249000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    2121581000                2058153000               1906309000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              709064000                 573612000                638889000
<BONDS>                                            715345000                 735607000                560912000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0                         0                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                0                         0                        0
<COMMON>                                           113573000                 113569000                108830000
<OTHER-SE>                                         533501000                 586609000                543557000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                      2121581000                2058153000               1906309000
<SALES>                                           1606205000                1004202000                489040000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  1835004000                1156537000                566325000
<CGS>                                             1063151000                 663943000                319982000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                     1063151000                 663943000                319982000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           0                         0                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   149528000                  44861000                 22928000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  48023000                  31529000                 15428000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    (39065000)                 36402000                 22000000
<INCOME-TAX>                                       (12983000)                 13362000                  8239000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                (26082000)                 23040000                 13761000
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0                         0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0                         0                        0
<CHANGES>                                                  0                         0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                       (26082000)                 23040000                 13761000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          (0.47)<F1>                 0.42<F1>                 0.25<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          (0.47)                     0.41                     0.25

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

        

</TABLE>