<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000797073
<NAME> DREYFUS DEBT AND EQUITY FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 07
<NAME> DREYFUS PREMIER HIGH YIELD SECURITIES FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 162382
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 131705
<RECEIVABLES> 8321
<ASSETS-OTHER> 95
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 140121
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4867
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2360
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7227
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 176170
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 25
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1173
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (15102)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (29347)
<NET-ASSETS> 284
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2430
<INTEREST-INCOME> 8049
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 9719
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (3573)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1928
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 8074
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (3)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 25
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (9359)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2493
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (11530)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 450
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 41
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 760
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 81
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.94
<PER-SHARE-NII> .47
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.63)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.52)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.26
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .014
</TABLE>
