<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
TAUBMAN  CENTERS,  INC.  BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1996  (UNAUDITED) AND THE
TAUBMAN CENTERS,  INC.  STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH
31, 1996  (UNAUDITED)  AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                       0000890319
<NAME>                           TAUBMAN CENTERS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000   
<CURRENCY>                                U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                           JAN-01-1996     
<PERIOD-END>                             MAR-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                    1 
<CASH>                                         7,916
<SECURITIES>                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      0
<ALLOWANCES>                                       0
<INVENTORY>                                        0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   0<F1>
<PP&E>                                             0
<DEPRECIATION>                                     0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               310,352<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              0<F1>
<BONDS>                                            0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                         441
<OTHER-SE>                                   299,772  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 310,352
<SALES>                                            0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               5,482<F2>
<CGS>                                              0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  63
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                5,244
<INCOME-TAX>                                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            5,244
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                   5,244
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    .12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    .12
<FN>      
<F1>      THE COMPANY HAS AN UNCLASSIFIED BALANCE SHEET.
<F2>      THE COMPANY'S PRIMARY ASSET IS AN EQUITY INVESTMENT IN THE TAUBMAN 
          REALTY GROUP LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.
</FN>