<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
QUARTERLY  REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE FISCAL  QUARTER ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1999 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>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                MAY-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                  OCT-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>               1
<CASH>                        13,508
<SECURITIES>                  9,648<F1>
<RECEIVABLES>                 3,666
<ALLOWANCES>                  0
<INVENTORY>                   51,961
<CURRENT-ASSETS>              84,371
<PP&E>                        748,278
<DEPRECIATION>                229,131
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                609,958
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>         103,881
<BONDS>                       119,731<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>         0
<PREFERRED>                   0
<COMMON>                      67,626
<OTHER-SE>                    260,262<F3>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>  609,958
<SALES>                       799,946
<TOTAL-REVENUES>              802,891
<CGS>                         630,471
<TOTAL-COSTS>                 630,471
<OTHER-EXPENSES>              124,938
<LOSS-PROVISION>              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>            3,990
<INCOME-PRETAX>               43,492
<INCOME-TAX>                  16,179
<INCOME-CONTINUING>           27,313
<DISCONTINUED>                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>               0
<CHANGES>                     0
<NET-INCOME>                  27,313
<EPS-BASIC>                 .52
<EPS-DILUTED>                 .52
<FN>
<F1>   SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
<F2>   LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF CURRENT MATURITIES
<F3>   RETAINED EARNINGS
</FN>