<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>             THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
                     EXTRACTED  FROM ASHLAND INC.'S 3RD QUARTER 10-Q AND IS
                     QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 10-Q.
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000,000
       
                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                       JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                                71
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      1,705
<ALLOWANCES>                                          27
<INVENTORY>                                          804
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   2,823
<PP&E>                                             7,268
<DEPRECIATION>                                     3,678
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     7,247
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              2,294
<BONDS>                                            1,752
<COMMON>                                              65
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                          293
<OTHER-SE>                                         1,424
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       7,247
<SALES>                                            9,631
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   9,764
<CGS>                                              8,436
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      8,436
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     972
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   128
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      228
<INCOME-TAX>                                          72
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  165
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                         165
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       2.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       2.23