<ARTICLE>          5

<LEGEND>           THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY
                   FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
                   FROM THE DIAL CORP'S FORM 10-Q FOR
                   THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED
                   SEPTEMBER 30, 1994 AND FROM THE
                   DIAL CORP'S FORM 10-K FOR THE
                   FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993
                   AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
                   REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
                   STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER>       1,000
       
 
                                                                      Exhibit 27
                                                                      Page 1 of 2

THE DIAL CORP
FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE 

                                                                  

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1994      DEC-31-1993

<PERIOD-END>                                           SEP-30-1994      DEC-31-1993

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          9-MOS            YEAR

<CASH>                                                       16,059           10,659

<SECURITIES>                                                      0                0

<RECEIVABLES>                                               197,726          199,996

<ALLOWANCES>                                                 21,668           22,597

<INVENTORY>                                                 217,989          216,837

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            992,300        1,052,604

<PP&E>                                                    1,420,718        1,307,729

<DEPRECIATION>                                              616,595          567,005

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            3,528,441        3,281,088

        




       

                                                                      Exhibit 27
                                                                      Page 2 of 2
                                                                  

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                     1,808,819        1,748,758

<BONDS>                                                     732,027          624,662

<COMMON>                                                    145,663           72,832

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                         6,589            6,624

<PREFERRED>                                                       0                0

<OTHER-SE>                                                  398,135          396,856

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                              3,528,441        3,281,088

<SALES>                                                   1,101,854        1,420,173

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                          2,629,373        3,000,342

<CGS>                                                       981,297        1,280,960

<TOTAL-COSTS>                                             2,379,669        2,725,049

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                             37,690           50,061

<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                  0                0

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           39,713           49,965

<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             169,260          171,649

<INCOME-TAX>                                                 63,229           61,376

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         106,031          110,273

<DISCONTINUED>                                                    0           32,120

<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                   0          (21,908)

<CHANGES>                                                         0                0

<NET-INCOME>                                                106,031          120,485

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                  1.22             1.40

<EPS-DILUTED>                                                  1.22             1.40