<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000797073
<NAME> DREYFUS DEBT AND EQUITY FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 09
<NAME> DREYFUS EQUITY INCOME FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 4795
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 5327
<RECEIVABLES> 3
<ASSETS-OTHER> 12
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5342
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 29
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 29
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 4476
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 322
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 302
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 6
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 299
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 532
<NET-ASSETS> 5313
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 46
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 32
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 17
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 320
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (108)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 229
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (16)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (286)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 13
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (11)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 18
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 257
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 5
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 265
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 19
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 55
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 5158
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 16.74
<PER-SHARE-NII> .05
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .70
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.05)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.95)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.49
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .006
</TABLE>
