<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>

This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Corporation's  unaudited  interim financial  statements as of and for the  three
months ended April 2, 2000, and the  accompanying  footnotes and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000012355
<NAME> THE BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-02-2000
<CASH>                                         131,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  788,700<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    813,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,925,900
<PP&E>                                         752,300<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,016,300
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,657,400
<BONDS>                                        806,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        42,500
<OTHER-SE>                                     720,300
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,016,300
<SALES>                                      1,037,600
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,037,600
<CGS>                                          674,600
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  926,000<F3>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              35,100
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 87,400<F3>
<INCOME-TAX>                                    27,200<F4>
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             60,200<F5>
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    60,200<F5>
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .69
<FN>
<F1>Represents net trade receivables.
<F2>Represents net property, plant, and equipment.
<F3>Includes a pre-tax gain on the sale of a business in the amount of $20,100.
<F4>Includes  tax  expense  of  $7,000  resulting  from a gain on the  sale of a
    business.
<F5>Includes  an after-tax  gain  on the sale  of a  business  in the  amount of
    $13,100.
</FN>