<ARTICLE>               5
<LEGEND>
Page 40
                                                                      Exhibit 27

                             Financial Data Schedule
                           Year Ended August 31, 1997
                  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 August 31,
1997 and the  consolidated  statement  of income for the year  ended  August 31,
1997,  and  is  qualified  in  its  entirety  by  reference  to  such  financial
statements.
</LEGEND>



       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                 SEP-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                   AUG-31-1997
<CASH>                            57,123
<SECURITIES>                     205,302
<RECEIVABLES>                    262,991
<ALLOWANCES>                       4,302
<INVENTORY>                      179,046
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                 780,758
<PP&E>                           593,038
<DEPRECIATION>                   356,308
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 1,106,352
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>            282,000
<BONDS>                           26,197
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0
<PREFERRED>                            0
<COMMON>                          57,919
<OTHER-SE>                       613,894
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   1,106,352
<SALES>                        1,542,644
<TOTAL-REVENUES>               2,036,179
<CGS>                            945,794
<TOTAL-COSTS>                  1,228,818
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                 622,159
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 6,124
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  179,078
<INCOME-TAX>                      71,800
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              107,278
<DISCONTINUED>                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0
<CHANGES>                              0
<NET-INCOME>                     107,278
<EPS-PRIMARY>                       2.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                       2.36