<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000037008
<NAME> FIRST UNION REAL ESTATE EQUITY AND MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
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<SECURITIES>                                         0
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<DEPRECIATION>                           (113,461,000)
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<BONDS>                                    241,965,000
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<COMMON>                                    27,965,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 171,167,000
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<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .08