<ARTICLE>                               5
<LEGEND>
Page 42                                                              Exhibit 27


                               Financial Data Schedules
                        Quarter Ended February 29, 1996
                        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, 1996 and
the consolidated statement of income for the six months ended February 29, 1996,
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
                                  
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         AUG-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                            SEP-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                              FEB-29-1996
<CASH>                                         73,431
<SECURITIES>                                    2,550
<RECEIVABLES>                                 260,353
<ALLOWANCES>                                    8,256
<INVENTORY>                                   182,428
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              627,958
<PP&E>                                        746,904
<DEPRECIATION>                                394,620
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1,111,347
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         176,795
<BONDS>                                        26,741
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                       57,919
<OTHER-SE>                                    771,295
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  757,470
<SALES>                                       712,245
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              974,756
<CGS>                                         454,537
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 603,751
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              301,092
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              2,098
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                67,815
<INCOME-TAX>                                   25,296
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            42,519
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   42,519
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.88
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.87