<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Consolidated Capital Properties III 1996 First Quarter 10-QSB and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such 10-QSB filing. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000317331 <NAME> CONSOLIDATED CAPITAL PROPERTIES III <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 3,022 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0<F1> <PP&E> 18,567 <DEPRECIATION> 12,996 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 9,245 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0<F1> <BONDS> 6,642 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,996 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 9,245 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,190 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,142 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 161 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 48 <EPS-PRIMARY> .29 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1>The Partnership has an unclassified balance sheet. </FN>