<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 28, 1997, 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-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               Sep-28-1997
<CASH>                                         187,300
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  856,500<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    924,100
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,088,200
<PP&E>                                         875,200<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,373,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,225,700
<BONDS>                                      1,879,100
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        47,400
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,646,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,373,000
<SALES>                                      3,422,100
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,422,100
<CGS>                                        2,201,200
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                3,117,800
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              99,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                200,300
<INCOME-TAX>                                    70,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            130,200
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   130,200
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.35
<FN>
<F1>Represents net trade receivables.
<F2>Represents net property, plant, and equipment.
</FN>