<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001040892
<NAME> PHOENIX EQUITY SERIES FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> PHOENIX CORE EQUITY FUND - B CLASS
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 29267
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 35808
<RECEIVABLES> 345
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 36153
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 376
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 228
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 604
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 28151
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 476
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 765
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 857
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6541
<NET-ASSETS> 35549
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 394
<INTEREST-INCOME> 27
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (568)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (147)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1040
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2178
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 3071
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (223)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 45
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (350)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 16
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (3220)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 847
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 298
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 717
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 39684
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.20
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.12)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.08
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.31)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.85
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.00
</TABLE>
