
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>             THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
                     EXTRACTED   FROM  ASHLAND   INC.'S  ANNUAL  REPORT  TO
                     SHAREHOLDERS  FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED  SEPTEMBER 30,
                     1997,  WHICH  RESTATED  THE YEAR ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30,
                     1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
                     SUCH ANNUAL REPORT. CERTAIN AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN RESTATED
                     TO  REFLECT  THE  ADOPTION  OF FAS  128 AND FAS 131 AS
                     DESCRIBED IN ASHLAND INC.'S 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
                     DECEMBER 31, 1997.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000,000

<S>                                                                          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                            SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                 SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                                                                77
<SECURITIES>                                                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                      1,648
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                          27
<INVENTORY>                                                                          708
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                   2,665
<PP&E>                                                                             6,285
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                     3,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                     7,089
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                              2,198
<BONDS>                                                                            1,784
<COMMON>                                                                              64
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                                                          293
<OTHER-SE>                                                                         1,457
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                       7,089
<SALES>                                                                           12,892
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                  12,992
<CGS>                                                                             11,331
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                     11,331
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                      10
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                   169
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                      217
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                          73
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                  136
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                        75
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                        0
<CHANGES>                                                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                         211
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                       3.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                       2.96


</TABLE>
