<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES 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> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1997 <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> 2.35