<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains financial information extracted from the Corporation's
unaudited interim financial statements as of and for the three and nine months
ended September 29, 1996, and the accompanying footnotes and is qualified in its
entirety by the reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000012355
<NAME> THE BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-29-1996
<CASH>                                         122,700
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  678,200<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    828,200
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,798,000
<PP&E>                                         856,800<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,148,500
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,404,200
<BONDS>                                      1,624,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    150,000
<COMMON>                                        43,900
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,329,200
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,148,500
<SALES>                                      3,459,600
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,459,600
<CGS>                                        2,209,500
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                3,234,600
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             111,600
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                104,200
<INCOME-TAX>                                    35,600
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             68,600
<DISCONTINUED>                                  70,400
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   139,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.45
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.44
<FN>
<F1>Represents net trade receivables.
<F2>Represents net property, plant and equipment.
</FN>