
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NEW JERSEY
RESOURCES CORPORATION'S JUNE 30, 1998 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>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      647,775
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     21,888
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         155,515
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        94,607
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 919,785
<COMMON>                                        45,664
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      201,419
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             54,457
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 301,540
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           20,000
<PREFERRED>                                        640
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           300,245
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  42,800
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      137
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     31,490
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 222,933
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  919,785
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      600,413
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            24,611
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     516,200
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     540,811
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         59,602
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,154
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  61,756
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        14,945
<NET-INCOME>                                    46,811
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,190
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   45,621
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        21,770
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       13,711
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          17,267
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.55
        

</TABLE>
