<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains  financial  information  extracted from the Corporation's
unaudited  interim  financial  statements  as of and for the three  months ended
April 4, 1999, 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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-04-1999
<CASH>                                         130,200
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  763,800<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    700,700
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,791,700
<PP&E>                                         706,200<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,877,100
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,292,700
<BONDS>                                      1,282,100
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        43,500
<OTHER-SE>                                     513,300
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 3,877,100
<SALES>                                        978,500
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               978,500
<CGS>                                          628,200
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  900,100
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              30,200
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 57,700
<INCOME-TAX>                                    18,500
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             39,200
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    39,200
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .45<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .44
<FN>
<F1>Represents net trade receivables.
<F2>Represents net property, plant, and equipment.
<F3>Represents basic earnings per share.
</FN>