<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>