<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CENTEX
CORPORATION'S SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, 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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          65,229
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  856,661
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  1,065,450
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                         390,760
<DEPRECIATION>                                 185,815
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,498,420
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                        223,813
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         7,148
<OTHER-SE>                                     766,093
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,498,420
<SALES>                                      1,894,014
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,894,014
<CGS>                                        1,772,633
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,722,633
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                25,920
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              18,791
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 76,670
<INCOME-TAX>                                    26,611
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             50,059
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    50,059
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      0.0