<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM 
THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE FISCAL QUARTER ENDED JULY 31, 1996 
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
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              APR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 MAY-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUL-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         5,944,748
<SECURITIES>                                   15,271,985<F1>
<RECEIVABLES>                                  3,008,258
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    34,086,979
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               63,876,896
<PP&E>                                         480,356,566
<DEPRECIATION>                                 138,868,686
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 411,294,410
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          81,134,618
<BONDS>                                        79,147,928<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       63,592,717
<OTHER-SE>                                     150,832,994<F3>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   411,294,410
<SALES>                                        286,907,949
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               288,365,351
<CGS>                                          228,804,922
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  228,804,922
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               43,796,183
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             1,513,544
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                14,250,702
<INCOME-TAX>                                   5,380,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            8,870,702
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   8,870,702
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .34
<FN>
<F1>  short-term investments
<F2>  long-term debt, net of current maturities
<F3>  retained earnings
</FN>