<ARTICLE>               5               
<LEGEND>                                
Page 96                                                               Exhibit 27

                            Financial Data Schedules
                         Quarter Ended February 28, 1997
                  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 28, 1997 and
the consolidated statement of income for the six months ended February 28, 1997,
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>                       
                        
                       
                        
       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                 SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                   FEB-28-1997
<CASH>                            30,648
<SECURITIES>                         551
<RECEIVABLES>                    246,376
<ALLOWANCES>                       6,587
<INVENTORY>                      164,903
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                 553,629
<PP&E>                           735,407
<DEPRECIATION>                   391,020
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 1,019,287
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>            184,862
<BONDS>                           26,262
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0
<PREFERRED>                            0
<COMMON>                          57,919
<OTHER-SE>                       604,950
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   1,019,287
<SALES>                          753,147
<TOTAL-REVENUES>               1,011,129
<CGS>                            471,917
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    622,692
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                 313,969
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 2,941
<INCOME-PRETAX>                   71,527
<INCOME-TAX>                      26,348
<INCOME-CONTINUING>               45,179
<DISCONTINUED>                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0
<CHANGES>                              0
<NET-INCOME>                      45,179
<EPS-PRIMARY>                       0.99
<EPS-DILUTED>                       0.99