<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CENTEX CORPORATIONS' SEPTEMBER 30, 2000, 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> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2001 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <CASH> 202,280 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,743,187 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 2,141,687 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 657,413 <DEPRECIATION> 288,992 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,228,580 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 1,650,307 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 14,761 <OTHER-SE> 1,512,923 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5,228,580 <SALES> 3,022,562 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,022,562 <CGS> 2,762,575 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,762,575 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 42,038 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 43,955 <INCOME-PRETAX> 173,994 <INCOME-TAX> 66,695 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 107,299 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 107,299 <EPS-BASIC> 1.82 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.79