<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>             THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
                     EXTRACTED  FROM ASHLAND  INC.'S 3RD QUARTER 1997 10-Q,
                     WHICH  RESTATED THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996, AND IS
                     QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 10-Q.
                     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>                                                                9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                            SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                 JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                                                                71
<SECURITIES>                                                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                      1,685
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                          27
<INVENTORY>                                                                          763
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                   2,763
<PP&E>                                                                             6,219
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                     3,026
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                     7,107
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                              2,247
<BONDS>                                                                            1,752
<COMMON>                                                                              65
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                                                          293
<OTHER-SE>                                                                         1,424
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                       7,107
<SALES>                                                                            9,459
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                   9,531
<CGS>                                                                              8,300
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                      8,300
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                   128
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                      152
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                          50
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                   95
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                        70
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                        0
<CHANGES>                                                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                         165
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                       2.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                       2.33