UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q


                     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




                   For the Quarterly Period Ended July 4, 1998
                         Commission file number 1-11793



                              THE DIAL CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



     DELAWARE                                                         51-0374887
(State  or  Other  Jurisdiction  of                             (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation  or  Organization)                             Identification No.)

15501  NORTH  DIAL  BOULEVARD
     SCOTTSDALE,  ARIZONA                                             85260-1619
(Address  of  Principal  Executive  Offices)                          (Zip Code)

Registrant's  Telephone  Number,  Including  Area  Code  (602)  754-3425
Indicate  by  check  mark  whether the registrant (1) has filed all Exchange Act
reports  required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange
Act  of  1934  during  the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such
filing  requirements  for  the  past  90  days.

               Yes     X                                No
                   -----------                              -----------


The  number  of shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, outstanding as the close
of  business  on  August 5,  1998  was  103,100,967.

<PAGE>
PART  I.    FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
ITEM  1.    FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                               THE DIAL CORPORATION
                            CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                  (000 omitted)
                                   (Unaudited)

                                                               
<S>                                                      <C>         <C>
                                                           July 4,    January 3,
                                                            1998         1998 
                                                         ----------  -----------
ASSETS
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $   6,471   $   10,089 
  Receivables, less allowance of $7,719 and $6,841. . .     40,894       60,448 
  Inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    128,696      124,058 
  Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     25,015       25,185 
  Other current assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      3,179        7,174 
                                                         ----------  -----------

     Total current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    204,255      226,954 

Property and equipment, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    259,165      260,928 
Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     62,118       63,567 
Intangibles, net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    403,485      331,482 
Other assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     21,009          921 
                                                         ----------  -----------

                                                         $ 950,032   $  883,852 
                                                         ==========  ===========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
  Trade accounts payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $ 101,052   $  102,235 
  Short-term borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      8,616        8,500 
  Income taxes payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     28,132       14,581 
  Other current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     88,619      113,435 
                                                         ----------  -----------

     Total current liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . .    226,419      238,751 

Long-term debt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    115,464       84,399 
Pension and other benefits  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    236,471      231,634 
Other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      8,633        9,022
                                                         ----------  -----------
     Total liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    586,987      563,806 
                                                         ----------  -----------

Stockholders' Equity
  Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares
    authorized, no shares issued and outstanding              ---          ---
  Common stock, $.01 par value, 300,000,000 shares
    authorized, 103,287,013 and 102,725,481 shares issued    1,033        1,027 
  Additional capital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    421,670      393,947 
  Retained income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     66,698       33,892 
  Unearned employee benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . .   (119,234)    (107,372)
  Treasury stock, 329,071 and 101,040 shares held . . .     (7,122)      (1,448)
                                                         ----------  -----------
     Total shareholders' equity . . . . . . . . . . . .    363,045      320,046 
                                                         ----------  -----------

                                                         $ 950,032   $  883,852 
                                                         ==========  ===========
</TABLE>


See  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              THE DIAL CORPORATION
                      STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
                      (000 omitted, except per share data)



                                                      (Unaudited)
                                                     Quarter Ended
                                                 ---------------------
                                                  July  4,   June 28,
                                                     1998       1997
                                                 ----------  ---------
<S>                                             <C>         <C>
Net sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $  366,798  $ 349,268
                                                 ----------  ---------

Costs and expenses:
   Cost of products sold. . . . . . . . . . . .     185,861    183,037
   Selling, general and administrative expenses     136,185    126,174
                                                 -----------  --------

                                                    322,046    309,211
                                                 -----------  --------


Operating income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      44,752     40,057

Interest and other expenses . . . . . . . . . .       4,632      7,133
                                                 -----------  --------


Income before income taxes. . . . . . . . . . .      40,120     32,924
Income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      14,513     12,542
                                                 ----------- ---------

NET  INCOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $   25,607  $  20,382
                                                 =========== =========

NET INCOME PER SHARE -- BASIC . . . . . . . . .  $    0.26   $   0.23
                                                 ==========  =========

NET INCOME PER SHARE -- DILUTED . . . . . . . .  $    0.25   $   0.22
                                                 ==========  =========
Weighted average basic shares outstanding . . .      98,158     90,381
     Weighted average equivalent shares . . . .       2,458      2,244
                                                 ----------  ---------

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding . .     100,616     92,625
                                                 ==========  =========

</TABLE>



See  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              THE DIAL CORPORATION
                      STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
                      (000 omitted, except per share data)


                                                       (Unaudited)
                                                     Six Months Ended
                                                 -------------------------
                                                   July  4,      June 28,
                                                     1998          1997
                                                 -----------   -----------
<S>                                              <C>           <C>
Net sales                                        $  701,820    $  665,510
                                                 -----------   -----------

Costs  and  expenses:
   Cost of products sold                            362,367      352,327
   Selling, general and administrative expenses     254,147      236,469                                                           
                                                 -----------    ----------
                                                                               
                                                    616,514      588,796
                                                 -----------    ----------


Operating income                                     85,306       76,714

Interest and other expenses                           9,386       14,799
                                                 -----------    ----------


Income before income taxes                           75,920       61,915
Income taxes                                         27,402       23,210
                                                 -----------    ----------          

NET  INCOME                                      $   48,518     $ 38,705
                                                 ===========    ==========

NET INCOME PER SHARE -- BASIC                    $    0.50      $  0.43                                       
                                                 ===========    ==========
                                                                             
NET INCOME PER SHARE -- DILUTED                  $    0.48      $  0.42
                                                 ===========    ==========                

Weighted  average  basic  shares  outstanding       97,908        90,277
     Weighted  average  equivalent  shares           2,384         1,984
                                                 -----------    ----------

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding        100,292        92,261
                                                 ===========    ==========

</TABLE>

See  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.

<TABLE>
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>

                              THE DIAL CORPORATION
                      STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
                                  (000 omitted)
                                   (Unaudited)

                                        
<S>                                                       <C>         <C>
                                                            Six Months Ended
                                                           July  4,   June  28,
                                                             1998       1997
                                                          ----------  ---------
CASH  FLOWS  PROVIDED  BY  OPERATING  ACTIVITIES:
Net  income                                               $  48,518   $  38,705
Adjustments  to  reconcile  net  income  to  net  cash
 provided  by  operating  activities:
  Depreciation  and  amortization                            16,668      15,464
  Deferred  income  taxes                                     1,619       9,003
  Change  in  operating  assets  and  liabilities:
   Receivables                                               (9,601)      2,482
   Inventories                                                1,007      26,542
   Trade  accounts  payable                                 (11,430)    (21,825)
   Other  assets  and  liabilities,  net                    (15,538)     14,498
                                                          -----------  ---------

Net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities               31,243      84,869
                                                          -----------  ---------
CASH  FLOWS  USED  BY  INVESTING    ACTIVITIES:
Capital  expenditures                                       (15,082)    (17,484)
Acquisition  of  business,  net  of  cash  acquired         (83,763)
Proceeds  from  sale  of  assets                             10,053
                                                          -----------  ---------

Net  cash  used  by  investing  activities                  (88,792)    (17,484)
                                                          -----------  ---------

CASH  FLOWS  PROVIDED  (USED)  BY  FINANCING  ACTIVITIES:
Net  change  in  long-term  borrowings                       31,065     (48,820)
Common  stock  purchased  for  treasury                      (5,232)
Net  change  in  short-term  bank  loans                        116
Dividends  paid  on  common  stock                          (15,712)    (14,457)
Cash  proceeds  from  stock  options                         12,594       5,170
Net  change  in  receivables  sold                           31,100     (11,200)
                                                           ----------  ---------   
 
Net  cash  provided  (used)  by  financing  activities       53,931     (69,307) 
                                                           ----------  ----------


Net  decrease  in  cash and cash equivalents                 (3,618)     (1,922)
Cash  and  cash  equivalents,  beginning of year             10,089      14,102
                                                            ---------  ---------

CASH  AND  CASH  EQUIVALENTS,  END OF PERIOD                $ 6,471    $ 12,180 
                                                            =========  =========
</TABLE>


See  Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements.

<PAGE>
					THE DIAL CORPORATION					
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE  A.    BASIS  OF  PREPARATION

The  Consolidated  Financial  Statements of The Dial Corporation ("the Company")
include  the  accounts  for  the  Company  and  all  of  its subsidiaries.  This
information  should  be  read  in  conjunction with the financial statements set
forth  in  The Dial Corporation Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended
January  3,  1998.

Accounting  policies  utilized  in  the preparation of the financial information
herein  presented  are  the  same as set forth in the Company's annual financial
statements  except  as modified for interim accounting policies which are within
the guidelines set forth in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 28, "Interim
Financial  Reporting."    The  interim  consolidated  financial  statements  are
unaudited.   In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal
recurring  accruals,  necessary  to  present fairly the financial position as of
July  4,  1998,  the results of operations for the quarters and six months ended
July 4, 1998 and June 28, 1997, and the cash flows for the six months ended July
4, 1998 and June 28, 1997 have been included.  Interim results of operations are
not  necessarily  indicative  of  the  results  of operations for the full year.

In  March  1997,  the  Financial  Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS No. 128"),
which  is effective for financial statements for both interim and annual periods
ending after December 15, 1997.  This new standard requires dual presentation of
"basic" and "diluted" earnings per share ("EPS") on the face of the statement of
operations  and  requires a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of
basic  and  diluted EPS calculations.  Basic net income per share is computed by
dividing  net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding
during  the period.  Diluted net income per common share is computed by dividing
net  income  by  the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during
the period after giving effect to stock options considered to be dilutive common
stock  equivalents.   Shares held by the Employee Equity Trust (the "Trust") are
not  considered  outstanding  for  net  income  per share calculations until the
shares  are  released  from  the  Trust.

At  July  4,  1998,  there  were  103,287,013  shares of common stock issued and
98,462,157  shares  outstanding.   At July 4, 1998 and June 28, 1997, a total of
4,495,785  and  5,574,321,  respectively,  of the issued shares were held by the
Trust.

At  July 4, 1998 and June 28, 1997, a total of 329,071 and 65,879, respectively,
shares  were  held  in  treasury by the Company.  The shares held in treasury at
July  4, 1998 include 218,687 shares purchased by the Company as part of a small
shareholder  selling/repurchasing  program  executed during the first and second
quarters  of  1998.


<PAGE>
NOTE  B.    ACQUISITION  OF  BUSINESS

On  July  1,  1998,  the  Company  acquired  The  Freeman  Cosmetic  Corporation
("Freeman"), a California corporation and a leading manufacturer and marketer of
natural  skin  care,  hair  care,  bath  and  body, and foot care products.  The
Statement  of  Consolidated  Operations presented for the quarter and six months
ended  July  4,  1998  does  not  include  the  operations  of  Freeman.

The acquisitions were accounted for as a purchase.  The purchase price,including
acquisition  costs,  was  allocated  to  the  net tangible and intangible assets
acquired  based  on  estimated  fair  values  at  the  date of acquisition.  The
difference  between  the purchase price and the related fair value of net assets
acquired  represents goodwill, which is being amortized on a straight-line basis
over  40  years.    The  fair  value  of  trademarks and other intangible assets
acquired  is  amortized  over  their  estimated  useful  lives.

Assets  acquired,  liabilities  assumed  and net cash paid are show in the table
below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                July 4,
                                 1998
                            -------------
<S>                         <C>
                            (000 omitted)

Accounts receivable, net . .  $ 11,567 
Inventories. . . . . . . . .     7,074 
Property and equipment, net.     2,063 
Intangibles. . . . . . . . .    76,841 
Other assets . . . . . . . .       612 
Liabilities assumed. . . . .   (14,394)
                              ---------

Net cash paid. . . . . . . .  $ 83,763 
                              =========
</TABLE>


The  Company  is  still  gathering  certain information required to complete the
allocation  of  the  purchase  price  of  the  acquisition  of Freeman.  Further
adjustments  may  arise  as  a  result of the finalization of the ongoing study.

The  following  unaudited pro forma combined condensed financial information for
the  first six months of 1998 and 1997 include the results of operations for the
Company  and assumes the Freeman acquisition was consummated at the beginning of
each  period  presented, along with adjustments which give effect to events that
are  directly  attributable  to  the  transaction  and  are  expected  to have a
continuing  impact.

The unaudited  pro  forma  combined  condensed  financial  information  does not
purport to represent the results of operations that would have actually resulted
had the  purchases  occurred on  the indicated dates, nor  should it be taken as
indicative of  future  results  of  operations.

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                              July 4,   June 28,
                                                1998      1997
                                              --------  ---------
<S>                                           <C>       <C>
                                             (000 omitted, except for
                                                 per share data)

Net sales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $730,948  $ 694,862
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    85,888     75,726
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    48,518     37,735
Earnings per share - diluted . . . . . . . .  $   0.48  $    0.41


</TABLE>



NOTE  C.    INVENTORIES

Inventories  consisted  of  the  following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                              July 4,    January 3,
                                1998        1998
                             ---------- -----------
<S>                          <C>         <C>
(000 omitted)

Raw materials and supplies.  $  40,731   $  36,938
Work in process . . . . . .      8,744       9,373
Finished goods. . . . . . .     79,221      77,747
                             ----------  ----------

                             $ 128,696   $ 124,058
                             ==========  ==========

</TABLE>


NOTE  D.    INCOME  TAXES

Reconciliation  between  the  statutory  federal  income tax rate of 35% and the
Company's  consolidated  effective income tax rate for the six months ended July
4,  1998  and  June  28,  1997  is  as  follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                      July 4,   June 28,
                                        1998      1997
                                      --------  ---------
<S>                                   <C>       <C>
Federal statutory rate . . . . . . .    35.0%      35.0%
Nondeductible goodwill amortization.     0.3        0.5 
FSC exclusion. . . . . . . . . . . .    (0.5)      (0.6)
State income taxes . . . . . . . . .     4.0        4.0 
Other, net (benefit) . . . . . . . .    (2.7)      (1.4)
                                       -------- ---------

Effective income tax rate. . . . . .    36.1%      37.5%
                                       ======== =========
</TABLE>






NOTE  E.    NEW  ACCOUNTING  PRONOUNCEMENT

In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement
of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS") No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income."    SFAS  No.  130  requires  that  enterprises  classify items of other
comprehensive  income  by  their nature in a financial statement and display the
accumulated  balance  of  other  comprehensive  income  separately from retained
income and additional capital in the shareholders' equity section of the balance
sheet.    The  Company's  annual  comprehensive  income  is  not  expected to be
materially different from its net income.  Comprehensive income for the quarters
and  six  months  ended  July  4,  1998  and  June  28, 1997 was $25,497,000 and
$20,377,000  and  $48,422,000  and  $38,675,000,  respectively.   The difference
between  net  income and comprehensive income consists primarily of increases in
the  Company's  additional  minimum  pension  liability.


<PAGE>
ITEM  2.    MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION  AND  ANALYSIS  OF  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
        RESULTS  OF  OPERATIONS

COMPARISON  OF  THE  SECOND  QUARTER  OF  1998  WITH  THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1997

Net  sales  increased  $17.5  million,  or  5%,  to $366.8 million in the second
quarter  of  1998 from $349.3 million in the second quarter of 1997.  The second
quarter  of  1997 included $18.9 million of sales from brands that were divested
in  the  third quarter of 1997.  The second quarter of 1998 does not include the
operations of The Freeman Cosmetic Corporation ("Freeman") which was acquired by
the  Company  on  July  1,  1998.

Sales  of  products  in the DIAL, PUREX, RENUZIT and ARMOUR franchises accounted
for  29%, 29%, 11% and 15% respectively, of the Company's total net sales in the
second  quarter  of 1998 compared to 27%, 28% 11% and 17%, respectively, for the
second  quarter  of  1997.    Compared to the second quarter of 1997, Dial sales
increased  13%,  Purex sales increased 7%, and Renuzit sales increased 1% during
the  second quarter of 1998.  During the same period, Armour sales decreased 6%.
Net  sales  in  international  markets increased approximately $23.2 million, or
125%,  to  $41.7  million  in  the second quarter of 1998.  International sales,
exclusive  of  the acquisitions in Argentina, increased $2.6 million, or 14%, to
$21.1  million  in  the  second quarter of 1998 from $18.5 million in the second
quarter  of  1997.

Gross  profit  margin increased 1.7% to 49.3% in the second quarter of 1998 from
47.6%,  in  the  second  quarter of 1997.  This increase resulted primarily from
significant  improvement  in manufacturing efficiencies and, to a lesser extent,
favorable  sales  mix  of  higher  marginal  personal  washing  products.

Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  for the second quarter of 1998
increased  $10.0  million, or 7.9%, to $136.2 million from $126.2 million in the
second  quarter  of  1997.    The increase was primarily due to higher marketing
expense to support core business-merchandising initiatives, new product launches
and  Dial  franchise  advertising.

Operating income in the second quarter of 1998 increased $4.7 million, or 11.7%,
to  $44.8  million  from  $40.1  million during the second quarter of 1997.  The
increase  was  primarily  due  to increased sales and gross margin improvements.

Interest  and  other expenses decreased $2.5 million, or 35.1%, to $4.6  million
for the second quarter  of  1998 compared to $7.1 million in the second  quarter
of  1997.    The  decrease  resulted  primarily  from  lower  average debt, down
$127 million  from  the  second  quarter  of  1997.

The  effective  tax rate for the second quarter of 1998  decreased to 36.2% from
38.1%  for the second quarter of 1997.  The decrease resulted primarily from the
benefits  associated  with  Foreign  Sales  Corporation  sales  and  foreign tax
holidays.

Net  income  increased  $5.2  million,  or 25.5%, to $25.6 million in the second
quarter  of 1998 from $20.4 million in the second quarter of 1997.  The increase
was  primarily  due  to  increased  sales, gross margin improvements and a lower
effective  tax  rate.

<PAGE>

COMPARISON  OF  THE  FIRST  SIX MONTHS OF 1998 WITH THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1997

Net  sales increased $36.3 million, or 5.5%, to $701.8 million in the first half
of  1998  from $665.5 million in the first half of 1997.  The first half of 1997
included  $41.4  million  of  sales  from brands that were divested in the third
quarter  of  1997.  The first six months of 1998 does not include the operations
of  Freeman  which  was  acquired  by  the  Company  on  July  1,  1998.

Sales  of  products  in the DIAL, PUREX, RENUZIT and ARMOUR franchises accounted
for  28%, 29%, 11% and 16% respectively, of the Company's total net sales in the
first half of 1998 compared to 26%, 29% 11% and 17%, respectively, for the first
half  of  1997.    Compared to the first half of 1997, Dial sales increased 13%,
Purex  sales  increased 7%, and Renuzit sales increased 2% during the first half
of  1998.    During  the  same  period  Armour sales decreased 3%.  Net sales in
international  markets increased $49.7 million, or 150%, to $82.9 million in the
first  half  of  1998.    International  sales, exclusive of the acquisitions in
Argentina,  increased  $13.5 million, or 41%, to $46.7 million in the first half
of  1998  from  $33.2  million  in  the  first  half  of  1997.

Gross profit margin increased 1.3% to 48.4% in the first half of 1998 from 47.1%
in  the  first  half  of  1997.   This increase resulted primarily from improved
manufacturing  efficiencies  and,  to  a  lesser  extent, favorable sales mix of
higher  margin  personal  washing  products.

Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  for  the  first  half  of 1998
increased  $17.6  million, or 7.5%, to $254.1 million from $236.5 million in the
first  half of 1997.  The increase was primarily due to higher marketing expense
to  support  core  business-merchandising  initiatives, new product launches and
Dial  franchise  advertising.

Operating  income in the first half of 1998 increased $8.6 million, or 11.2%, to
$85.3  million  from  $76.7 million during the first half of 1997.  The increase
was  primarily  due  to  increased  sales  and  gross  margin  improvements.

Interest  and other expenses decreased $5.4 million, or  36.6%, to $9.4  million
for the first half of 1998 compared to $14.8 million in the  first half of 1997.
The decrease resulted primarily from lower average debt, down $128 million  from
the first  half  of  1997.

The effective tax rate for the first half of 1998 decreased to 36.1%, from 37.5%
for  the  first half of 1997.  The decrease resulted primarily from the benefits
associated  with  Foreign  Sales  Corporation  sales  and  foreign tax holidays.

Net  income increased $9.8 million, or 25.3%, to $48.5 million in the first half
of  1998  from  $38.7  million  in  the  first  half  of 1997.  The increase was
primarily  due  to  increased    sales,  gross  margin  improvements and a lower
effective  tax  rate.

<PAGE>

LIQUIDITY  AND  CAPITAL  RESOURCES

The  Company  generated  cash  from operations of $31.2 million during the first
half  of 1998 compared to cash generated of $84.9 million for the same period of
time in 1997.  The decrease of $53.7 million resulted primarily from inventories
remaining  relatively flat in the first half of 1998 versus the large decline of
inventory  balances  in  the  first  half  of  1997, the payment of severance in
connection  with  the  closure  of  a  manufacturing facility in Argentina and a
reduction  in  the  deferred  portion  of  the  income  tax  provision.

Capital  expenditures for the first half of 1998 were $15.1 million versus $17.5
million for the comparable period in 1997.  Capital spending in 1998 is expected
to  approximate  $50 million and will be concentrated primarily on equipment and
information systems that provide opportunities to reduce manufacturing, logistic
and  administrative  costs and address the Year 2000 issue.  However, such plans
are  dependent  on  the  availability  of  funds,  as  well as identification of
projects  with sufficient returns.  As a result, there can be no assurance as to
the  quantity  and  the  type  of  capital  spending  in  the  future.

On  July  1,  1998,  the  Company  acquired  Freeman for $83.8 million which was
financed   through   short-term  borrowings supported by the Company's long-term
Credit Agreement.  The  Freeman  acquisition added approximately  $18.6  million
to  current  assets, $14.4  million  to  current liabilities  and  approximately
$76.8  million  to  goodwill.

The  Company received approximately $10.0 million from the disposition of assets
during  the  first  half of 1998, the majority of which resulted from two sales.
The  Toss 'n Soft brand and related inventories were sold to Church & Dwight Co,
Inc. for approximately $5.3 million.  In addition, a non-operating manufacturing
property  was  sold  for  $4.0  million  to  a third party.  No gain or loss was
realized  on  either  of  the  transactions.

The  Company's  financing  plan  includes  the  sale  of  accounts receivable to
accelerate cash flow.  Accounts receivable sold but not yet collected under this
plan  at  July  4,  1998 and June 28, 1997 were $90.0 million and $63.7 million,
respectively.    Under  the  terms  of the plan, the Company retains the risk of
credit  loss  on  the  receivables  sold.

The  Company  is  also a party to a $350 million revolving credit agreement (the
"Credit  Agreement")  with  various  banks.    The  Credit Agreement, which will
terminate  on August 15, 2002, unless extended, contains certain covenants which
impose  limitations  on  the  Company  with  respect to, among other things, its
ability  to  place  liens  on  property,  its  ability  to merge, consolidate or
transfer  substantially all its assets, its minimum net worth and the incurrence
of  certain  indebtedness.    The  Company  had $350 million available under the
Credit  Agreement  at  July  4,  1998.    The  Company, from time to time, makes
short-term  bank  borrowings  that are supported by the Credit Agreement.  As of
July  4, 1998, The Company had $114.8 million aggregate principal amount of such
short-term  borrowings outstanding.  The increased borrowings resulted primarily
from  the acquisition of Freeman, which was financed entirely by such short-term
borrowings.    The bank borrowings are classified as long-term debt because they
are  supported  by  the  long-term  Credit  Agreement.

As part of its business strategy, the  Company  routinely  reviews and evaluates
the  acquisitions  of domestic  and international companies that market products
that are  similar to  the Company's product  offerings.  The  Company  may  seek
additional  debt  and/or  equity  financing as  necessary to  fund any potential
acquisitions.

At  July 4, 1998 and June 28, 1997, a total of 329,071 and 65,879, respectively,
shares  were  held  in treasury by The Company.  The shares held at July 4, 1998
include  218,687  shares valued at $5.2 million purchased by the Company as part
of  a  small  shareholder selling/repurchasing program executed during the first
and  second  quarters  of  1998.

In August 1997, the Company moved its corporate headquarters from the Viad Tower
to  office  space  in  Scottsdale, Arizona.  The Company has approximately eight
years remaining on the lease for the Viad Tower space, which commits the Company
to  payments  of  approximately $2.7 million annually through 2006.  The Company
has  subleased  a  portion  of the space and is actively marketing the remaining
space  for  sublease.

As  of July 4, 1998, the Company had approximately $87.1 million in net deferred
tax  benefits.    The  realization  of such benefits will require average annual
taxable  income  of  approximately  $16.1  million  over the next 15 years.  The
Company's  average  income  before  income  taxes  over the last three years was
approximately  $43.1  million.

In  the  third  quarter  of 1998, the Company intends to complete an offering of
Senior  Notes  to take advantage of favorable long-term interest rates.  The net
proceeds  of  this debt financing will be used for the repayment of indebtedness
that  bears  short-term  interest rates, general corporate purposes and possible
acquisitions.





<PAGE>
PART  II.    OTHER  INFORMATION

ITEM  2.    CHANGES  IN  SECURITIES  AND  USE  OF  PROCEEDS

On  July  1,  1998, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of
Freeman.   In connection with the acquisition and related employment agreements,
the  Company issued an aggregate of 21,000 shares of its common stock to Mark S.
Freeman and Jill I. Freeman.  Exemption from registration for these issuances of
common  stock is claimed pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933,
as  amended,  regarding  transactions  by  an  issuer  not  involving any public
offering.

ITEM  5.    OTHER  INFORMATION

The  Commission  recently  adopted amendments to the rules governing stockholder
proposals  and recommended that registrants disclose the deadlines for receiving
stockholder  proposals.

As  disclosed  in  the  Company's 1998 Proxy Statement, proposals intended to be
presented  at  the  1999  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  and included in the
Company's  1999  Proxy  Statement  must be received by the Company no later than
December  11,  1998.

In  the  event  a  stockholder  wishes to nominate a candidate for election as a
Director,  or  wishes  to  propose  any  other  matter  for consideration at the
stockholder  meeting  other  than  proposals covered by the preceding paragraph,
written  notice  of such stockholder's intent to make such nomination or request
such  other  action  must  be  given  to  the Secretary of the Company, The Dial
Corporation,  15501  North  Dial  Boulevard,  Scottsdale,  Arizona  85260-1619,
pursuant  to certain procedures set out in the Company's Bylaws, a copy of which
is  available  upon request from the Secretary of the Company.  These procedures
provide,  among  other  things, that such stockholder's written notice of intent
must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company not prior to March 6, 1999 and
not  after  March  26,  1999.   The Chairman of the Annual Meeting may refuse to
acknowledge  the  nomination  of any person or the request for such other action
not  made  in  compliance  with  the  foregoing  procedures.

ITEM  6.    EXHIBITS  AND  REPORTS  ON  FORM  8-K

        (A)   Exhibits

              3(b)  Bylaws  of  The  Company

              27.   Financial  Data  Schedule

              99.   Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995  Safe
                    Harbor Compliance Statement for Forward-Looking  Statements.

              (B)   A   Current  Report  on  Form 8-K was filed on  May 4, 1998,
                    relating to the Company's first quarter  financial  results.
                    A  Current Report on Form 8-K was filed on  July  30,  1998,
                    relating  to the Company's second quarter financial results.

                                 SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934, the
registrant  has  duly  caused  this  report  to  be  signed on its behalf by the
undersigned  thereunto  duly  authorized.


The  Dial  Corporation
(Registrant)

August 6, 1998


\s\   Susan  J.  Riley
--------------------------------------------------------------
      Susan  J.  Riley
      Senior  Vice  President  and  Chief  Financial  Officer
      (Chief  Accounting  Officer  and  Authorized  Officer)