<ARTICLE>         5

<LEGEND>          THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM VIAD CORP'S FORM
                  10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED
                  SEPTEMBER 30, 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>                                               SEP-30-1998

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                    9-MOS

<CASH>                                                          16,432

<SECURITIES>                                                         0

<RECEIVABLES>                                                  117,459

<ALLOWANCES>                                                     5,024

<INVENTORY>                                                     74,066

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               392,706

<PP&E>                                                         823,012

<DEPRECIATION>                                                 368,300

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               4,101,724

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                        2,764,117

<BONDS>                                                        475,053

<COMMON>                                                       149,610

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            6,622

<PREFERRED>                                                          0

<OTHER-SE>                                                     479,137

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                 4,101,724

<SALES>                                                              0

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                             1,932,244

<CGS>                                                                0

<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                1,760,319

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                20,700

<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                     0

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              31,668

<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                165,825

<INCOME-TAX>                                                    52,791

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                            113,034

<DISCONTINUED>                                                       0

<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                      0

<CHANGES>                                                            0

<NET-INCOME>                                                   113,034

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                     1.19

<EPS-DILUTED>                                                     1.14