<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>

This schedule contains  financial  information  extracted from the Corporation's
unaudited interim  financial  statements as of and for the six months ended July
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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               Jul-04-1999
<CASH>                                         134,700
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  797,100<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    806,500
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,939,100
<PP&E>                                         701,400<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,012,100
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,567,100
<BONDS>                                      1,058,700
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        43,500
<OTHER-SE>                                     573,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,012,100
<SALES>                                      2,062,700
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,062,700
<CGS>                                        1,299,400
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,857,200
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              59,900
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                161,600
<INCOME-TAX>                                    51,700
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            109,900
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   109,900
<EPS-BASIC>                                     1.26<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.24
<FN>
<F1>Represents net trade receivables.
<F2>Represents net property, plant, and equipment.
<F3>Represents basic earnings per share.
</FN>