<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, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
                   ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
                   STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER>       1,000

       
 
                                                                 Exhibit 27
                                                                           
THE DIAL CORP
FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE 
                                                            

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

<PERIOD-END>                                                    JUN-30-1996

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         6-MOS

<CASH>                                                                6,366

<SECURITIES>                                                              0

<RECEIVABLES>                                                       266,798

<ALLOWANCES>                                                         16,206

<INVENTORY>                                                          97,418

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                  1,108,337

<PP&E>                                                            1,004,372

<DEPRECIATION>                                                      408,033

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,773,470

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                             2,229,173

<BONDS>                                                             822,938

<COMMON>                                                            145,663

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 6,601

<PREFERRED>                                                               0

<OTHER-SE>                                                          439,974

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                      3,773,470

<SALES>                                                                   0

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                  1,152,015

<CGS>                                                                     0

<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                     1,058,491

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                     29,913

<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   28,708

<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      34,268

<INCOME-TAX>                                                         14,556

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  19,712

<DISCONTINUED>                                                       18,900

<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0

<CHANGES>                                                                 0

<NET-INCOME>                                                         38,612

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          0.42

<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          0.42