<ARTICLE>            5

<LEGEND>             THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                     INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM VIAD CORP'S
                     FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1998 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-31-1998

<PERIOD-END>                                                             MAR-31-1998

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                  3-MOS

<CASH>                                                                        29,490

<SECURITIES>                                                                       0

<RECEIVABLES>                                                                141,341

<ALLOWANCES>                                                                   4,787

<INVENTORY>                                                                  109,414

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                             836,171

<PP&E>                                                                       858,418

<DEPRECIATION>                                                               397,289

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                             3,755,806

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                      2,636,418

<BONDS>                                                                      401,911

<COMMON>                                                                     149,610

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                          6,615

<PREFERRED>                                                                        0

<OTHER-SE>                                                                   389,235

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                               3,755,806

<SALES>                                                                            0

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                             602,780

<CGS>                                                                              0

<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                561,848

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                               7,301

<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                   0

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                            11,174

<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                               22,181

<INCOME-TAX>                                                                   6,802

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                           15,379

<DISCONTINUED>                                                                     0

<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                    0

<CHANGES>                                                                          0

<NET-INCOME>                                                                  15,379

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                   0.16

<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                   0.15