[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000830142
[NAME] ZENIX INCOME FUND INC.
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   6-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          MAR-31-1998
[PERIOD-END]                               SEP-30-1997
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                      150,254,540
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                     160,906,344
[RECEIVABLES]                                6,051,611
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                     100
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                                 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                             166,958,055
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                       658,125
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                     30,000,000
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                      322,331
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                         30,980,456
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                             30,000,000
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                   125,538,106
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                       14,967,904
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                                0
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                    6,709,217
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                               0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                        680,590
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                             0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                     7,781,696
[NET-ASSETS]                               135,977,599
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                              339,995
[INTEREST-INCOME]                            7,123,023
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                                 753,801
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                      6,709,217
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                       680,590
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                    7,781,696
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                       15,171,503
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                    5,460,851
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                             0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                        1,050,000
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                              0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                          0
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                            226,264
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                      15,171,503
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                     13,332,766
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                      939,501
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                           0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                          403,198
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                           9,151,200
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                              1,318,398
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                       129,871,160
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                             6.45
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                   0.45
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                           0.58
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                              0.37
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                         0.07
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                               7.04
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                   2.57
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>