<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW 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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      518,091
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    247,289
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         165,506
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        57,991
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  70,622
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,059,499
<COMMON>                                        94,828
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       64,305
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            183,360
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 342,493
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,900
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           303,750
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                 225
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   15,737
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 380,294
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,059,499
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      126,529
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,854
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      98,447
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     106,301
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         20,228
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,347
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  21,575
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,440
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,135
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        198
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   12,937
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,761
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          58,382
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .45
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0