<ARTICLE>               5               
<LEGEND>                                
Page 96                                                               Exhibit 27

                            Financial Data Schedules
                         Quarter Ended November 30, 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 November 30, 1996 and
the  consolidated  statement of income for the three  months ended  November 30,
1996,  and  is  qualified  in  its  entirety  by  reference  to  such  financial
statements.

</LEGEND>                       
                        
                       
                        
       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                 SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                   NOV-30-1996
<CASH>                            50,850
<SECURITIES>                         551
<RECEIVABLES>                    275,219
<ALLOWANCES>                       6,891
<INVENTORY>                      171,662
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                 603,849
<PP&E>                           754,228
<DEPRECIATION>                   400,701
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 1,085,726
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>            210,581
<BONDS>                           24,889
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0
<PREFERRED>                            0
<COMMON>                          57,919
<OTHER-SE>                       638,396
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   1,085,726
<SALES>                          381,763
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 511,893
<CGS>                            236,604
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    312,182
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                 159,030
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 1,341
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   39,340
<INCOME-TAX>                      14,506
<INCOME-CONTINUING>               24,834
<DISCONTINUED>                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0
<CHANGES>                              0
<NET-INCOME>                      24,834
<EPS-PRIMARY>                       0.54
<EPS-DILUTED>                       0.54