<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>