<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>             THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
                     EXTRACTED  FROM ASHLAND INC.'S 2ND QUARTER 10-Q AND IS
                     QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 10-Q.
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000,000
       
                                                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                                6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                            SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                                 MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                                                                90
<SECURITIES>                                                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                      1,072
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                          22
<INVENTORY>                                                                          480
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                   1,935
<PP&E>                                                                             2,544
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                     1,322
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                     6,238
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                              1,588
<BONDS>                                                                            1,481
<COMMON>                                                                              74
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                                                            0
<OTHER-SE>                                                                         2,007
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                       6,238
<SALES>                                                                            3,149
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                   3,288
<CGS>                                                                              2,579
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                      2,579
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                    67
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                      124
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                          48
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                   76
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                        0
<CHANGES>                                                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                          76
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                       1.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                       1.01