CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Dial to Cut Jobs, Reorganize: The company said it will eliminate about 250 jobs, sell or stop making unspecified items that aren’t selling well and move out of its current downtown Phoenix headquarters building. Dial Corp., the maker of Dial soaps, Purex detergents, Armour Star food products and Renuzit air fresheners, said the restructuring should eventually save $40 million annually and improve profitability. But it said 1996 earnings will be 15% below securities analysts’ current expectations. By centralizing management, Dial expects to cut overhead expenses by 20%. The job cuts amount to about 8.2% of the company’s work force of 3,050 and will come mainly from management and administrative positions. The company plans to take a one-time write-off of about $50 million for the third quarter to cover the streamlining costs. The company will focus its efforts on core products and plans to shed other lines that account for about 10% of total sales volume.