<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-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                              JAN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      526,314
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    504,650
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         202,976
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        74,795
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,308,735
<COMMON>                                       171,061
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      141,057
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            205,057
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 517,175
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,700
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           332,126
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               6,439
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   2,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,471
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 428,724
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,308,735
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      349,837
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,412
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     324,223
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     328,635
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         21,202
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,156
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  26,358
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,350
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,008
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        389
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   11,619
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        19,285
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        5,112
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          56,722
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     .24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     .24