<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000797073
<NAME> DREYFUS DEBT AND EQUITY FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> DREYFUS PREMIER CORE BOND FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 362250
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 359422
<RECEIVABLES> 68088
<ASSETS-OTHER> 412
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 427922
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 100897
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2741
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 103638
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 331194
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 22738
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 19228
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 147
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (6360)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (2697)
<NET-ASSETS> 323600
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1065
<INTEREST-INCOME> 10703
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 10252
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1603
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (2930)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 8925
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (10693)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 6476
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (3489)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 523
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 49168
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 287
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (7660)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 907
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 27
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1516
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 303868
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.31
<PER-SHARE-NII> .48
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.50)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.23
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.010
</TABLE>
