<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>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      536,081
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    591,625
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         240,649
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        84,420
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,452,775
<COMMON>                                       176,601
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      168,658
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            205,583
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 550,842
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,600
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           413,264
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    3,192
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 453,777
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,452,775
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      896,627
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            17,485
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     825,684
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     843,169
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         53,458
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              10,922
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  64,380
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        30,273
<NET-INCOME>                                    34,107
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        777
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   33,330
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        40,470
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        9,791
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         138,446
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .66