<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<RESTATED> 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                    <C>                    <C>                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                  6-MOS                  9-MOS                  
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         SEP-30-1997            SEP-30-1997            SEP-30-1997 
<PERIOD-START>                            OCT-01-1996            OCT-01-1996            OCT-01-1996 
<PERIOD-END>                              DEC-31-1996            MAR-31-1997            JUN-30-1997 
<CASH>                                         46,537                 66,834                 92,359 
<SECURITIES>                                        0                      0                      0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                 470,574                499,857                490,626 
<ALLOWANCES>                                   16,803                 19,775                 19,192 
<INVENTORY>                                   763,061                825,424                795,122 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            1,283,759              1,397,754              1,383,286 
<PP&E>                                         92,048                112,542                111,167 
<DEPRECIATION>                                 40,723                 43,055                 45,640 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1,355,397              1,519,505              1,502,336 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         762,158                865,672                964,866 
<BONDS>                                       611,929                656,173                532,335 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0                      0                      0 
<PREFERRED>                                         0                      0                      0 
<COMMON>                                          270                    270                    271 
<OTHER-SE>                                   (25,261)               (13,351)                (6,316) 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                1,355,397              1,519,505              1,502,336 
<SALES>                                     1,791,310              3,613,511              5,704,695 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            1,791,310              3,613,511              5,704,695 
<CGS>                                       1,705,158              3,434,458              5,425,182 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               1,705,158              3,434,458              5,425,182 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               57,162                117,476                196,944 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                2,090                  2,371                  3,252 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              9,295                 20,355                 30,966 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                19,695                 41,222                 51,603 
<INCOME-TAX>                                    7,878                 16,273                 20,322 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            11,817                 24,949                 31,281 
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0                      0                      0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0                (1,982)                (1,982) 
<CHANGES>                                           0                      0                      0 
<NET-INCOME>                                   11,817                 22,967                 29,299 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     .50                    .97                   1.24 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     .49                    .96                   1.22  
        



</TABLE>