<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Centex
Corporation's September 30, 1995, 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-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                          26,390
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  790,796
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  1,270,510
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                          82,618
<DEPRECIATION>                                  43,843
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,297,262
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                        322,075
<COMMON>                                         7,054
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     683,374
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,297,262
<SALES>                                      1,487,796
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,501,635
<CGS>                                        1,437,883
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,437,883
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 7,370
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              19,294
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 37,088
<INCOME-TAX>                                    14,664
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             22,424
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    22,424
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00