<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, 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>                                                         SEP-30-1995

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                        9-MOS

<CASH>                                                                     17,479

<SECURITIES>                                                                    0

<RECEIVABLES>                                                             202,837

<ALLOWANCES>                                                               18,950

<INVENTORY>                                                               225,098

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        1,127,347

<PP&E>                                                                  1,477,974

<DEPRECIATION>                                                            631,560

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          3,841,713

        







       

                                                                    Exhibit 27
                                                                    Page 2 of 2
                                                                  

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                   2,151,974

<BONDS>                                                                   730,763

<COMMON>                                                                  145,663

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                       6,596

<PREFERRED>                                                                     0

<OTHER-SE>                                                                401,325

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            3,841,713

<SALES>                                                                 1,009,865

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        2,651,674

<CGS>                                                                   1,049,373

<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           2,600,424

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                           32,465

<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                0

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                         56,312

<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                           (41,079)

<INCOME-TAX>                                                              (20,315)

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                       (20,764)

<DISCONTINUED>                                                                  0

<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                 0

<CHANGES>                                                                       0

<NET-INCOME>                                                              (20,764)

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               (0.24)

<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               (0.24)