<ARTICLE>          5

<LEGEND>           THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                   INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM VIAD CORP'S
                   FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED
                   JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
                   ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
                   STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER>       1,000

       
 
                                                                 Exhibit 27
                                                                           
                                    VIAD CORP
                            FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE 
                                                            

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               DEC-31-1997

<PERIOD-END>                                                    JUN-30-1997

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         6-MOS

<CASH>                                                                3,073

<SECURITIES>                                                              0

<RECEIVABLES>                                                       190,756

<ALLOWANCES>                                                         11,970

<INVENTORY>                                                         113,592

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    919,691

<PP&E>                                                              851,087

<DEPRECIATION>                                                      400,980

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    3,391,259

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                             2,303,997

<BONDS>                                                             446,173

<COMMON>                                                            145,663

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 6,609

<PREFERRED>                                                               0

<OTHER-SE>                                                          316,330

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                      3,391,259

<SALES>                                                                   0

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                  1,184,671

<CGS>                                                                     0

<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                     1,087,315

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                     17,722

<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   26,602

<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      52,548

<INCOME-TAX>                                                         15,353

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  37,195

<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0

<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                      (8,458)

<CHANGES>                                                                 0

<NET-INCOME>                                                         28,737

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          0.30

<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          0.30