<ARTICLE>               5               
<LEGEND>                   
                                                                         Page 43
                                                                      Exhibit 27

                             Financial Data Schedule
                         Quarter Ended November 30, 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 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