<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY 
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000067716
<NAME> MDU RESOURCES GROUP INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> US
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                              JAN-1-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      519,594
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    207,450
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         136,835
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        58,564
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  70,910
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 993,353
<COMMON>                                        63,219
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       95,914
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            171,398
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 330,531
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            2,000
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           278,527
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   19,140
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 348,055
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  993,353
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      227,785
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            10,264
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     185,737
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     196,001
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         31,784
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,133
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  33,917
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,983
<NET-INCOME>                                    18,934
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        397
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   18,537
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        15,189
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          79,585
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .98
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0