<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains  financial  information  extracted from the Corporation's
unaudited  interim  financial  statements  as of and for the nine  months  ended
October 1, 2000, and the accompanying footnotes and is qualified in its entirety
by the reference to such financial statements.

<CIK> 0000012355
<NAME> THE BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-01-2000
<CASH>                                         138,200
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  859,900
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    906,600
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,147,900
<PP&E>                                         749,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,232,200
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,871,800
<BONDS>                                        806,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        41,200
<OTHER-SE>                                     727,800
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,232,200
<SALES>                                      3,297,200
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,297,200
<CGS>                                        2,081,600
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,894,800
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             108,300
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                329,300
<INCOME-TAX>                                    99,800
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            229,500
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   229,500
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.69

<F1>Represents net trade receivables.
<F2>Represents net property, plant, and equipment.
<F3>Includes a pre-tax gain on the sale of a business in the amount of $20,100.
<F4>Includes tax expense of $7,000 resulting from a gain on the sale of a
    business.
<F5>Includes an after-tax gain on the sale of a business in the amount of
    $13,100.