<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CENTEX CORPORATION'S JUNE 30, 1996, FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000018532 <NAME> CENTEX CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 36,066 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 897,202 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,107,505 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 391,206 <DEPRECIATION> 181,175 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,566,904 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 221,743 <COMMON> 7,127 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 737,661 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,566,904 <SALES> 892,411 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 892,411 <CGS> 837,830 <TOTAL-COSTS> 837,830 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 11,648 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,582 <INCOME-PRETAX> 33,351 <INCOME-TAX> 11,532 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 21,819 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,819 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.75 <EPS-DILUTED> 0