Exhibit 99.18
(Text of graph posted to Ashland Inc.'s website concerning
APAC's 14-State Weighted Retail Diesel Price Index)
APAC's 14-State Weighted Retail Diesel Price Index
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 1998-2003 Avg.
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January 108.93 93.59 132.07 149.26 113.00 146.95 152.19 123.97
February 106.27 92.92 142.33 146.71 112.80 163.90 153.88 127.49
March 104.21 96.09 144.49 135.85 120.37 167.25 158.18 128.04
April 104.23 103.14 138.71 138.11 127.71 150.70 162.00 127.10
May 104.20 103.03 138.74 144.73 127.42 142.26 165.42 126.73
June 101.56 102.56 138.98 143.23 125.11 138.35 164.39 124.96
July 100.40 107.61 140.25 133.89 126.73 139.27 167.71 124.69
August 97.70 112.76 143.40 135.50 129.17 143.88 178.34 127.07
September 99.51 118.06 159.23 143.93 137.26 141.76 187.75 133.29
October 101.12 119.28 158.52 129.99 143.41 144.01 132.72
November 99.25 122.48 158.04 121.61 138.17 143.86 130.57
December 94.19 125.79 151.36 113.97 139.79 144.64 128.29
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Average 101.80 108.11 145.51 136.40 128.41 147.23 165.54 127.91