<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                              JAN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      526,553
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    500,462
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         211,329
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        72,933
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,311,277
<COMMON>                                       109,331
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      157,697
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            220,882
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 487,910
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,700
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           338,073
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               1,625
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,336
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 456,533
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,311,277
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      170,122
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,883
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     137,913
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     147,796
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         22,326
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,602
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  24,928
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,135
<NET-INCOME>                                    17,793
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        194
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   17,599
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         9,440
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        2,670
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          37,219
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .58