<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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      522,069
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    293,405
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         167,069
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        43,570
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  20,269
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,046,382
<COMMON>                                        95,730
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       69,386
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            198,572
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 363,688
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,800
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           298,720
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               7,675
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    6,754
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 352,645
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,046,382
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      265,192
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            13,308
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     215,988
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     229,296
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         35,896
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,528
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  39,424
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,087
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,337
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        391
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   22,946
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        15,915
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          68,937
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0