<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CENTEX CORPORATION'S DECEMBER 31, 1999, FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000018532 <NAME> CENTEX CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999 <CASH> 161,713 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,126,822 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 2,096,026 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 602,037 <DEPRECIATION> 264,012 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,401,156 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 570,179 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 14,785 <OTHER-SE> 1,347,235 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,401,156 <SALES> 4,230,837 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 4,230,837 <CGS> 3,807,341 <TOTAL-COSTS> 3,807,341 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 75,498 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 45,828 <INCOME-PRETAX> 302,170 <INCOME-TAX> 115,063 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 187,107 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 187,107 <EPS-BASIC> 3.15 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.06