<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>             THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
                     EXTRACTED  FROM ASHLAND  INC.'S 2ND QUARTER 1997 10-Q,
                     AS  RESTATED  IN THE ANNUAL  REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED
                     SEPTEMBER  30, 1997,  AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
                     BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  DOCUMENTS.  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
       
                                                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                            SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                                 MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                                                               107
<SECURITIES>                                                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                      1,817
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                          26
<INVENTORY>                                                                          805
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                   2,985
<PP&E>                                                                             7,576
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                     3,744
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                     8,031
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                              2,400
<BONDS>                                                                            2,058
<COMMON>                                                                              74
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                                                            0
<OTHER-SE>                                                                         1,738
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                       8,031
<SALES>                                                                            6,891
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                   6,948
<CGS>                                                                              6,116
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                      6,116
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                    90
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                       71
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                          26
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                   26
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                        17
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                        0
<CHANGES>                                                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                          43
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                        .51
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                        .50