<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CENTEX CORPORATION'S SEPTEMBER 30, 1998, FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000018532 <NAME> CENTEX CORP. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 94,151 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,770,612 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,301,618 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 525,053 <DEPRECIATION> 231,912 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,946,437 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 209,097 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 14,878 <OTHER-SE> 1,067,711 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,946,437 <SALES> 2,353,688 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,353,688 <CGS> 2,127,842 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,127,842 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 40,523 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,235 <INCOME-PRETAX> 167,088 <INCOME-TAX> 62,364 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 104,724 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 104,724 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.76 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.69