<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      512,756
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    286,169
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         146,316
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        58,754
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  70,301
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,074,296
<COMMON>                                        94,828
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       64,305
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            184,003
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 343,136
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,900
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           330,350
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               3,637
<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>                 364,436
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,074,296
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      236,742
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            13,011
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     188,459
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     201,470
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         35,272
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,041
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  38,313
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,578
<NET-INCOME>                                    21,735
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        395
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   21,340
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        15,521
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          80,205
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0