8-K

                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C.  20549

                                      --------

                                      FORM 8-K

                      CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                         OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):   March 19, 2001
                                                   (March 15, 2001)


                                 UNITED STATIONERS INC.
                 (Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

          Delaware                    000-10653                  36-3141189
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission file number)      (I.R.S. employer
 of incorporation)                                           identification no.)

                              UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.
                   (Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

          Illinois                    33-59811                  36-2431718
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission file number)      (I.R.S. employer
 of incorporation)                                           identification no.)


       2200 East Golf Road                                    60016-1267
       Des Plaines, Illinois                                  (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)


          Registrants' telephone number, including area code:  (847) 699-5000

                                    ----------





             UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND UNITED STATIONERS SUPPLY CO.


ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

     On March 15, 2001, United Stationers Inc. and its affiliates
(collectively, the "Company"), announced today that based upon preliminary
financial results for the two months ended February 28, 2001, the Company
currently expects sales and earnings for the first quarter of 2001 to be
below the Company's previously stated goals of 6 to 9% organic sales growth
and 15% growth in earnings per share.  Sales for the two months ended
February 28, 2001 were up 8.4%, reflecting modest growth in the core business
as well as contributions from recent acquisitions.  As a result of continued
investments in building its logistics and fulfillment business, The Order
People, and softness in its core business, the Company expects earnings per
share for the first quarter to be in the range of $0.59 to $0.63, compared
with $0.69 in the prior-year first quarter.

ITEM 7.  EXHIBITS

Exhibit 99

            Press release issued by the Company on March 15, 2001.


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                   United Stationers Inc.
                                   United Stationers Supply Co.

Dated:     March 19, 2001          By:  /s/ Eileen A. Kamerick
                                   ------------------------------
                                   Eileen A. Kamerick
                                   Executive Vice President
                                   and Chief Financial Officer

EX-99

                                                                  Exhibit 99

[UNITED STATIONERS LOGO]


                                         Kathleen S. Dvorak
                                         Sr. Vice President, Investor Relations
                                         and Financial Administration
                                                     or
                                         Eileen A. Kamerick
                                         Executive Vice President and
                                           Chief Financial Officer
                                         United Stationers Inc.
                                         (847) 699-5000

                                         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                    UNITED STATIONERS INC. REPORTS
                   PRELIMINARY FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

     DES PLAINES, Ill., March 15, 2001--United Stationers Inc. (NASDAQ: USTR)
announced today that based upon preliminary financial results for the two
months ended February 28, 2001, the Company currently expects sales and
earnings for the first quarter of 2001 to be below the Company's previously
stated goals of 6 to 9% organic sales growth and 15% growth in earnings per
share.  Sales for the two months ended February 28, 2001 were up 8.4%,
reflecting modest growth in the core business as well as contributions from
recent acquisitions.  As a result of continued investments in building its
logistics and fulfillment business, THE ORDER PEOPLE, and softness in its
core business, the Company expects earnings per share for the first quarter
to be in the range of $0.59 to $0.63, compared with $0.69 in the prior-year
first quarter.

     Randall W. Larrimore, president and chief executive officer said, "For
the first quarter ending March 31, 200l, the operating loss for THE ORDER
PEOPLE will be in the range of $6.0 to $7.0 million.  Excluding the operating
loss associated with THE ORDER PEOPLE, the Company would expect to achieve
growth in earnings per share over the first quarter of the prior-year."

     "We are confident that the long-term market opportunity for the
fulfillment and Customer Relationship Management services offered by THE
ORDER PEOPLE is significant.  However, we are taking actions to lower the
overall cost structure of THE ORDER PEOPLE to reflect our revised
expectations relative to the timing of the revenue stream.  We will continue
to examine the cost structure to make further adjustments, as necessary.  In
addition, we are continuing to implement cost-reduction programs throughout
the company.  While the near-term is challenging, we remain optimistic about
our long-term growth potential," concluded Larrimore.

United Stationers Inc., with 2000 sales of $3.9 billion, is North America's
largest distributor of business products to resellers and provider of
marketing and logistics services.  Its integrated computer-based distribution
system makes more than 40,000 items available to 20,000 resellers.  United is
able to ship products within 24 hours of order placement because of its 39
United Stationers Supply Co. regional distribution centers, 28 Lagasse
distribution centers that serve the janitorial and sanitation industry, six
Azerty distribution centers that serve computer supply resellers, three
distribution centers that serve the Canadian marketplace and a distribution
center serving clients of THE ORDER PEOPLE.  Its focus on fulfillment
excellence has given the company a 98% order fill rate, a 99.5% order
accuracy rate, and a 99% on-time delivery rate. For more information, visit
WWW.UNITEDSTATIONERS.COM.





United Stationers Inc. Reports
Preliminary First Quarter Results
Page two of two

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF STATEMENTS ON HISTORICAL EVENTS, THE INFORMATION
PRESENTED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE
MEANING OF SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED.
THESE STATEMENTS INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL
RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THE INFORMATION PRESENTED HERE.  THE RISKS
AND UNCERTAINTIES AFFECTING THIS RELEASE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO,
ASSESSING THE MARKET POTENTIAL FOR THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS, THE TIMING
OF REVENUE GENERATION, THE ABILITY OF THE COMPANY TO QUICKLY ADJUST THE COST
STRUCTURE OF THE ORDER PEOPLE AND THE SUCCESS OF THE ORDER PEOPLE AND
E-NITED, THE INTEGRATION OF ACQUISITIONS, CHANGES IN END-USERS' DEMANDS FOR
BUSINESS PRODUCTS, CUSTOMER CREDIT RISK, THE EFFECTS OF FLUCTUATIONS IN
MANUFACTURERS' PRICING, GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, AND THE HIGHLY
COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE COMPANY OPERATES.  A DESCRIPTION OF
THESE AND OTHER FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS ARE SET
FORTH IN FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION INCLUDING THE
COMPANY'S LATEST 10-K AND 10-Q.  THE COMPANY'S SEC FILINGS ARE READILY
AVAILABLE AT WWW.SEC.GOV.

The company's common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market System under
the symbol USTR and is included in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index.

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