<ARTICLE>          5

<LEGEND>           THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                   INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DIAL CORP'S
                   FORMS 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIODS ENDED
                   MARCH 31, 1996 AND MARCH 31, 1995 AND IS
                   QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
                   SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

                   THE INTERIM STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTERLY
                   PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 HAVE BEEN
                   RESTATED TO REFLECT THE EARLY ADOPTION
                   (ADOPTED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1995) OF
                   SFAS NO. 121, "ACCOUNTING FOR THE
                   IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND FOR
                   LONG-LIVED ASSETS TO BE DISPOSED OF."  THE
                   INITIAL APPLICATION OF SFAS NO. 121 TO
                   LONG-LIVED ASSETS HELD FOR DISPOSAL AT
                   JANUARY 1, 1995, RESULTED IN A NON-CASH
                   CHARGE OF $17.7 MILLION (NET OF TAX
                   BENEFIT OF $7.6 MILLION) AND WAS REPORTED
                   AS A CUMULATIVE EFFECT, TO JANUARY 1,
                   1995, OF A CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE.

<RESTATED>

<MULTIPLIER>       1,000

       
 
                                                                    Exhibit 27
                                                                 

THE DIAL CORP
 FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE 

                                                                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996        DEC-31-1995 

<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1996        MAR-31-1995 

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS              3-MOS

<CASH>                                               26,219             13,281

<SECURITIES>                                              0                  0

<RECEIVABLES>                                       254,404            240,862

<ALLOWANCES>                                         20,066             20,408

<INVENTORY>                                         252,721            233,132

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  1,179,445          1,072,058

<PP&E>                                            1,501,138          1,465,835

<DEPRECIATION>                                      645,569            633,953

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    4,023,026          3,664,666

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             2,224,166          1,882,432

<BONDS>                                             822,733            768,036

<COMMON>                                            145,663            145,663

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 6,599              6,592

<PREFERRED>                                               0                  0

<OTHER-SE>                                          420,042            421,807

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                      4,023,026          3,664,666

<SALES>                                             352,392            337,862

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    936,413            858,197

<CGS>                                               316,050            304,060

<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       866,591            794,337

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     11,640             11,149

<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0                  0

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   19,955             18,427

<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      38,196             34,221

<INCOME-TAX>                                         13,702             12,714

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  24,494             21,507

<DISCONTINUED>                                            0                  0

<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0                  0

<CHANGES>                                                 0             17,696

<NET-INCOME>                                         24,494              3,811

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          0.27               0.04

<EPS-DILUTED>                                          0.27               0.04