<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000067716
<NAME> MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> US
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 515,777
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 991,945
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 361,100
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 136,939
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,005,761
<COMMON> 61,280
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 437,470
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 252,853
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 751,603
1,500
15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 695,030
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 3,756
100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 538,772
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 2,005,761
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 734,968
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 21,490
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 664,459
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 685,949
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 49,019
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 6,676
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 55,695
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 21,205
<NET-INCOME> 34,490
383
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 34,107
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 24,823
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 4,865
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 80,838
<EPS-BASIC> .58
<EPS-DILUTED> .58
</TABLE>
