“PRELIMINARY DATA”
Exhibit 99.17
(Text of graph posted to Ashland Inc.'s website concerning
Ashland Distribution gross profit)
3 Month Rolling Average (%)* | |||||
# | |||||
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
January | 9.9 | 10.1 | 8.8 | 7.6 | 10.0 |
February | 9.7 | 9.4 | 8.7 | 7.2 | |
March | 9.8 | 9.6 | 9.0 | 7.7 | |
April | 9.8 | 9.7 | 8.1 | 7.6 | |
May | 10.0 | 9.8 | 7.3 | 7.6 | |
June | 10.0 | 9.3 | 7.1 | 7.8 | |
July | 10.1 | 9.1 | 7.3 | 7.6 | |
August | 9.7 | 8.8 | 7.8 | 7.7 | |
September | 9.3 | 8.8 | 7.0 | 8.1 | |
October | 9.1 | 8.9 | 6.9 | 8.1 | |
November | 9.9 | 9.0 | 7.2 | 8.5 | |
December | 10.2 | 8.6 | 7.5 | 8.6 |
12 Month Rolling Average (%)* | |||||
# | |||||
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
January | 9.6 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 7.5 | 8.2 |
February | 9.6 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 7.4 | |
March | 9.7 | 9.8 | 8.9 | 7.3 | |
April | 9.7 | 9.7 | 8.7 | 7.4 | |
May | 9.7 | 9.7 | 8.4 | 7.5 | |
June | 9.7 | 9.6 | 8.4 | 7.5 | |
July | 9.8 | 9.5 | 8.3 | 7.4 | |
August | 9.8 | 9.5 | 8.2 | 7.4 | |
September | 9.7 | 9.5 | 7.9 | 7.8 | |
October | 9.7 | 9.4 | 7.7 | 7.7 | |
November | 9.8 | 9.2 | 7.7 | 7.7 | |
December | 9.8 | 9.1 | 7.6 | 8.0 |
*NOTE: August and September 2007 information (and 3 and 12 month rolling averages that contain August and September 2007 information) is affected by the 13 month foreign reporting impact described on the Business Fundamentals page of this website.
# - January 2009 data is currently a preliminary estimate until Ashland completes its monthly close process and files an updated Form 8-K at the end of February 2009.