<ARTICLE>                        5
<LEGEND>
                                                                         Page 93
                                                                      Exhibit 27

                        Restated Financial Data Schedule
                           Quarter Ended May 31, 1996
                  Pursuant to Section 601(c) of Regulation S-K


This schedule  contains restated summary  financial  information  extracted from
National Service Industries,  Inc. consolidated balance sheet as of May 31, 1996
and the consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended May 31, 1996,
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
 
 

</LEGEND>
                                  
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         AUG-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                            SEP-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                              MAY-31-1996
<CASH>                                         79,307
<SECURITIES>                                    2,551
<RECEIVABLES>                                 264,545
<ALLOWANCES>                                    8,981
<INVENTORY>                                   177,503
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              625,900
<PP&E>                                        759,855
<DEPRECIATION>                                403,873
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1,111,111
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         179,595
<BONDS>                                        26,737
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                       57,919
<OTHER-SE>                                    784,700
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  748,756
<SALES>                                     1,093,359
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            1,491,626
<CGS>                                         691,951
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 918,243
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              457,601
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              3,631
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               112,151
<INCOME-TAX>                                   41,955
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            70,196
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   70,196
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    1.46
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.44