<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE WATSCO,
INC. FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                   1,000
       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             DEC-31-1996               
<PERIOD-END>                                  JUN-30-1996    
            
<CASH>                                         22,189
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  66,450
<ALLOWANCES>                                    2,849
<INVENTORY>                                    87,326
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              177,982
<PP&E>                                         27,530
<DEPRECIATION>                                 12,749
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                219,169
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         104,232
<BONDS>                                         2,994
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                        6,781
<OTHER-SE>                                    101,500
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  219,169
<SALES>                                       181,344
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              196,286
<CGS>                                         140,920
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 152,432
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               32,331
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  509
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              2,134
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 9,232
<INCOME-TAX>                                    3,554
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             5,562
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                    5,562
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.42