<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NEW JERSEY
RESOURCES CORPORATION'S JUNE 30, 1997 FORM 10-Q, INCLUDING THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      630,938
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     20,170
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         146,780
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        56,732
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 854,620
<COMMON>                                        45,445
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      204,335
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             41,639
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 291,419
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           20,000
<PREFERRED>                                        760
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           260,345
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  33,400
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      137
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     31,632
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 216,927
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  854,620
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      595,118
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            23,059
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     511,982
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     535,041
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         60,077
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 507
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  60,584
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        15,418
<NET-INCOME>                                    45,166
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,195
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   43,971
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        21,537
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       15,024
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          58,309
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.44