<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>             THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
                     EXTRACTED  FROM  ASHLAND  INC.'S 1ST QUARTER 1998 10-Q
                     WHICH WAS RESTATED IN THE 2ND QUARTER  1998 10-Q,  AND
                     IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH
                     10-Q'S AND NOTE F OF NOTES TO  CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED
                     FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  IN THE 2ND  QUARTER  10-Q  THAT
                     EXPLAINS THE RESTATEMENT.
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000,000
       
                                                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                            SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                                 DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                                                                57
<SECURITIES>                                                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                      1,143
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                          19
<INVENTORY>                                                                          500
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                   1,901
<PP&E>                                                                             4,087
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                     1,857
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                     6,788
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                              1,424
<BONDS>                                                                            1,577
<COMMON>                                                                              75
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                                                            0
<OTHER-SE>                                                                         1,981
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                       6,788
<SALES>                                                                            1,927
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                   2,005
<CGS>                                                                              1,652
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                      1,652
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                    31
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                      101
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                          39
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                   52
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                        0
<CHANGES>                                                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                          52
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                        .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                        .68