<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 ENTIRELY 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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      520,392
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    291,101
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         178,634
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        47,031
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  25,582
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,062,740
<COMMON>                                        95,258
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       66,790
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            198,005
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 360,053
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,800
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           310,699
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               1,435
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   11,754
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 361,899
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,062,740
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      139,811
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,614
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     109,055
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     117,669
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         22,142
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 662
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  22,804
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,207
<NET-INCOME>                                    14,597
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        196
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   14,401
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,938
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          53,568
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0