<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000797073
<NAME> DREYFUS DEBT AND EQUITY FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 17
<NAME> DREYFUS PREMIER HIGH YIELD DEBT PLUS EQUITY FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 11167
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 8396
<RECEIVABLES> 427
<ASSETS-OTHER> 40
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 8863
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 168
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 225
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 393
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 10222
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 467
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 407
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 96
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 923
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (2771)
<NET-ASSETS> 4745
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 57
<INTEREST-INCOME> 806
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 79
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 784
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 960
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (2799)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (1055)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (351)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (279)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 251
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (200)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 10
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (2502)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (44)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 495
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 39
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 119
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 5675
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.79
<PER-SHARE-NII> .93
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (2.21)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.76)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.60)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.15
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .018
</TABLE>
