<ARTICLE>          5

<LEGEND>           THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY
                   FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
                   FROM THE DIAL CORP'S FORM 10-Q FOR
                   THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH
                   31, 1995 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-31-1995      

<PERIOD-END>                                           MAR-31-1995      

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          3-MOS            

<CASH>                                                       13,281

<SECURITIES>                                                      0

<RECEIVABLES>                                               218,911

<ALLOWANCES>                                                 20,408

<INVENTORY>                                                 233,132

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                          1,069,238

<PP&E>                                                    1,482,085

<DEPRECIATION>                                              633,953

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            3,682,362

        







       

                                                                      Exhibit 27
                                                                      Page 2 of 2
                                                    

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                     1,882,432

<BONDS>                                                     768,036

<COMMON>                                                    145,663

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                         6,592

<PREFERRED>                                                       0

<OTHER-SE>                                                  439,503

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                              3,682,362

<SALES>                                                     337,862

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                            858,197

<CGS>                                                       304,060

<TOTAL-COSTS>                                               794,337

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                             11,149

<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                  0

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           18,427

<INCOME-PRETAX>                                              34,221

<INCOME-TAX>                                                 12,714

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                          21,507

<DISCONTINUED>                                                    0

<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                   0

<CHANGES>                                                         0

<NET-INCOME>                                                 21,507

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                  0.24

<EPS-DILUTED>                                                  0.24