<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>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      518,857
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    287,233
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         191,658
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        54,192
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  37,233
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,089,173
<COMMON>                                        94,828
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       64,305
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            191,541
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 350,674
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,800
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           346,960
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               1,950
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   2,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   11,754
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 358,935
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,089,173
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      514,701
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,087
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     403,176
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     419,263
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         95,438
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (15,466)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  79,972
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        34,502
<NET-INCOME>                                    45,470
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        787
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   44,683
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        31,326
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       34,502
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         106,238
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0