<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
QUARTERLY  REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE FISCAL  QUARTER ENDED JANUARY 31, 2000 OF
CASEY'S  GENERAL  STORES,  INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000726958
<NAME>                        CASEY'S GENERAL STORES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. DOLLARS


                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                MAY-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                  JAN-31-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>               1
<CASH>                        18,097
<SECURITIES>                  12,557<F1>
<RECEIVABLES>                 3,684
<ALLOWANCES>                  0
<INVENTORY>                   54,337
<CURRENT-ASSETS>              95,350
<PP&E>                        776,906
<DEPRECIATION>                238,458
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                635,217
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>         140,649
<BONDS>                       114,652<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>         0
<PREFERRED>                   0
<COMMON>                      54,879
<OTHER-SE>                    264,680<F3>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>  635,217
<SALES>                       1,201,975
<TOTAL-REVENUES>              1,206,143
<CGS>                         957,277
<TOTAL-COSTS>                 957,277
<OTHER-EXPENSES>              190,720
<LOSS-PROVISION>              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>            6,360
<INCOME-PRETAX>               51,786
<INCOME-TAX>                  19,264
<INCOME-CONTINUING>           32,522
<DISCONTINUED>                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>               0
<CHANGES>                     0
<NET-INCOME>                  32,522
<EPS-BASIC>                   .62
<EPS-DILUTED>                 .62
<FN>
<F1>    SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
<F2>    LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF CURRENT MATURITIES
<F3>    RETAINED EARNINGS
</FN>