<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      525,638
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    321,684
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         233,907
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        63,621
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  15,674
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,160,524
<COMMON>                                        96,831
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       75,466
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            204,212
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 376,509
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,800
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           355,630
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               6,038
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  10,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    8,692
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 386,755
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,160,524
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      428,891
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            21,753
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     350,662
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     372,415
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         56,476
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,637
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  62,113
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        24,581
<NET-INCOME>                                    37,532
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        586
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   36,946
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        24,275
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         101,794
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0