<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> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      512,073
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    743,249
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         332,796
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        98,825
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,686,943
<COMMON>                                        56,665
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      362,410
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            231,276
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 650,351
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,600
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           487,953
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               3,479
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,006
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 523,454
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,686,943
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      924,904
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            36,147
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     809,739
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     845,886
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         79,018
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,033
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  86,051
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        26,436
<NET-INCOME>                                    59,615
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        579
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   59,036
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        33,343
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        7,298
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         103,753
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.09