<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE NEW
JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION'S MARCH 31, 1998 FORM 10-Q, INCLUDING THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS,
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMMON STOCK EQUITY AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      644,621
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     21,799
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         193,289
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        68,517
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 928,226
<COMMON>                                        45,527
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      202,494
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             58,778
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 306,799
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           20,000
<PREFERRED>                                        760
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           268,145
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        1,620
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  45,800
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      137
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     31,490
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 253,475
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  928,226
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      486,981
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            23,919
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     411,215
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     435,134
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         51,847
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,775
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  53,622
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        10,102
<NET-INCOME>                                    43,520
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        793
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   42,727
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        14,484
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       14,048
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (23,651)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.39