<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
                                                                         Page 87
                                                                      Exhibit 27
 
                             Financial Data Schedule
                           Year Ended August 31, 1998
                  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 August 31, 1998 and
the consolidated  statement of income for the year ended August 31, 1998, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such  financial  statements.  (Replace
this text with the legend)
</LEGEND>
       
                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                SEP-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                  AUG-31-1998
<CASH>                                         $19,146
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  311,771
<ALLOWANCES>                                     4,631
<INVENTORY>                                    197,950
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               607,051
<PP&E>                                         657,047
<DEPRECIATION>                                 385,176
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,010,684
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          221,995
<BONDS>                                         78,092
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        57,919
<OTHER-SE>                                     520,982
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,010,684
<SALES>                                      1,718,564
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,031,310
<CGS>                                        1,044,215
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,227,685
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               619,682
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 3,558
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,264
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                173,121
<INCOME-TAX>                                    64,401
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            108,720
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   108,720
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.53