<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MASCO CORPORATION'S SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-1-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 379,040 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 584,450<F1> <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 496,920 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,569,010 <PP&E> 1,004,170<F1> <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,223,620 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 641,590 <BONDS> 1,321,250 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 165,170 <OTHER-SE> 1,978,960 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,223,620 <SALES> 2,770,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,770,000 <CGS> 1,751,700 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,751,700 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 58,200 <INCOME-PRETAX> 461,500 <INCOME-TAX> 184,600 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 276,900 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 276,900 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.71 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.67 <FN> <F1>RECEIVABLES AND PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT ARE PRESENTED NET OF ALLOWANCES FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION, RESPECTIVELY. </FN>