<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>

  THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM THE
TAUBMAN CENTERS, INC. BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 (UNAUDITED) AND THE
TAUBMAN  CENTERS,  INC.  STATEMENT  OF  OPERATIONS  FOR THE  NINE  MONTHS  ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 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>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           8,494
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                               0
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 299,921<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           441
<OTHER-SE>                                     289,359
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   299,921
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                15,364<F2>
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   187
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,678
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             14,678
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   (444)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,234
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .32
<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>