<ARTICLE>          5

<LEGEND>           THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                   INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DIAL CORP'S
                   FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED
                   JUNE 30, 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>                                                         JUN-30-1995

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                        6-MOS

<CASH>                                                                     22,022

<SECURITIES>                                                                    0

<RECEIVABLES>                                                             247,766

<ALLOWANCES>                                                               19,849

<INVENTORY>                                                               226,781

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        1,119,071

<PP&E>                                                                  1,502,108

<DEPRECIATION>                                                            647,539

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          3,792,119

        


       

                                                                    Exhibit 27
                                                                    Page 2 of 2
                                                                  

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                   1,987,205

<BONDS>                                                                   752,768

<COMMON>                                                                  145,663

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                       6,594

<PREFERRED>                                                                     0

<OTHER-SE>                                                                490,746

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            3,792,119

<SALES>                                                                   701,755

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        1,760,081

<CGS>                                                                     616,819

<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           1,592,722

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                           22,088

<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                0

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                         36,679

<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                           107,944

<INCOME-TAX>                                                               38,971

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                        68,973

<DISCONTINUED>                                                                  0

<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                 0

<CHANGES>                                                                       0

<NET-INCOME>                                                               68,973

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                0.78

<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                0.77