<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE MARSHALL INDUSTRIES QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS                   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAY-31-1998             MAY-31-1998             
<PERIOD-START>                             JUN-01-1997             JUN-01-1997             
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1998             FEB-28-1998            
<CASH>                                           1,968                   1,968                  
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0      
<RECEIVABLES>                                  224,370                 224,370                
<ALLOWANCES>                                  (11,439)                (11,439)                 
<INVENTORY>                                    356,476                 356,476                
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               603,425                 603,425                
<PP&E>                                          96,087                  96,087                 
<DEPRECIATION>                                (49,673)                (49,673)                
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 813,388                 813,388                 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          183,475                 183,475                 
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                     
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       
<COMMON>                                        16,616                  16,616               
<OTHER-SE>                                     380,655                 380,655                
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   813,388                 813,388                
<SALES>                                        368,112               1,043,747                
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               368,112               1,043,747                
<CGS>                                          309,431                 882,500                
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      309                 882,500                
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                      
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   762                   2,124                  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,902                   3,067                
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 13,747                  45,981                  
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,740                  19,295                  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              8,007                  26,686                 
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                  14,615                       
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,007                  41,301                  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .48                    1.61                    
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .48                    1.59                   
        

</TABLE>