<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000945633
<NAME> UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-2000             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000             JUN-30-2000
<CASH>                                          27,673                  27,673
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  313,882                 313,882
<ALLOWANCES>                                    13,454                  13,454
<INVENTORY>                                    559,610                 559,610
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               908,208                 908,208
<PP&E>                                               0                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,274,628               1,274,628
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          485,608                 485,608
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                         3,721                   3,721
<OTHER-SE>                                     444,382                 444,382
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,274,628               1,274,628
<SALES>                                        928,927               1,908,285
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               928,927               1,908,285
<CGS>                                          780,588               1,602,154
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  780,588               1,602,154
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               104,708                 215,837
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,560                   2,610
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,557                  12,971
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 38,074                  78,418
<INCOME-TAX>                                    15,306                  31,726
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             22,768                  46,692
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  6,476                   6,476
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,292                  40,216
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.48                    1.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.47                    1.15