<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
Page 40
                                                                      Exhibit 27

                             Financial Data Schedule
                         Quarter Ended February 29, 2000
                  Pursuant to Section 601(c) of Regulation S-K


This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from National
Service Industries,  Inc. consolidated balance sheet as of February 29, 2000 and
the consolidated statement of income for the six months ended February 29, 2000,
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>

                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                SEP-1-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                  FEB-29-2000
<CASH>                                           1,483
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  384,716
<ALLOWANCES>                                     7,275
<INVENTORY>                                    243,276
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               705,669
<PP&E>                                         834,862
<DEPRECIATION>                                 438,117
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,725,098
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          430,424
<BONDS>                                        434,007
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        57,919
<OTHER-SE>                                     584,181
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,725,098
<SALES>                                      1,070,288
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,225,423
<CGS>                                          647,137
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  737,076
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               392,567
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,047
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              20,751
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 72,982
<INCOME-TAX>                                    28,316
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             44,666
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    44,666
<EPS-BASIC>                                     1.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.10