SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 20, 2004


                                  ASHLAND INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    Kentucky
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

              1-2918                                         61-0122250
       (Commission File Number)                          (I.R.S. Employer
                                                        Identification No.)


   50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky          41012-0391
           (Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)


           P.O. Box 391, Covington, Kentucky                 41012-0391
                   (Mailing Address)                         (Zip Code)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (859) 815-3333

Check the  appropriate  box below if the Form 8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of
the following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act 
   (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act 
   (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
    Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the 
    Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))




Item 7.01  Regulation FD Disclosure
---------  ------------------------

     On December 20,  2004,  Ashland  Inc.  will include the  information
contained in exhibits  99.1 - 99.18,  and graphic  images  thereof,  on the
"Investor  Relations"  section of its website  located at  www.ashland.com.
Ashland is  furnishing  the  information  pursuant  to the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission's ("SEC") Regulation FD. The information  contained in
exhibits  99.1 - 99.18 is summary  information  concerning  key metrics for
Ashland's  divisional  operations  and is intended to be  considered in the
context of  Ashland's  SEC  filings  and other  public  announcements  that
Ashland may make from time to time.

     By filing this report on Form 8-K,  Ashland  makes no  admission as to
the  materiality of any  information in this report.  Ashland  reserves the
right to discontinue the availability of the data in the attached  exhibits
from its website at any time.

                                      -2-



Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits
---------  ---------------------------------

(c)      Exhibits

99.1     Website data concerning Ashland  Distribution  Company's sales per
         ship day

99.2     Website data concerning Ashland Distribution Company's revenue

99.3     Website  data  concerning  Ashland  Distribution  Company's  gross
         profit

99.4     Website  data  concerning  Ashland  Specialty  Chemical  Company's
         average sales per ship day

99.5     Website  data  concerning  Ashland  Specialty  Chemical  Company's
         revenue

99.6     Website data concerning Ashland Specialty Chemical Company's gross
         profit

99.7     Website data concerning Valvoline's premium oil sales

99.8     Website data concerning Valvoline's revenue

99.9     Website data  concerning  Valvoline  Instant Oil  Change's  twelve
         month rolling average sales

99.10    Website data concerning APAC's twelve month average contract awards

99.11    Website data  concerning  APAC's lost time incident rates and OSHA
         recordable incident rates

99.12    Website data  concerning  APAC's monthly  revenue and twelve month
         rolling average revenue

99.13    Website data concerning APAC's backlog

99.14    Website data concerning APAC's asphalt mix production

99.15    Website data concerning U.S. Gulf Coast Asphalt Barge Prices
         
99.16    Website data concerning Sour Crude Differential

99.17    Website data concerning Chicago 3-2-1 Crack Spreads

99.18    Website date concerning APAC's 14-State Weighted Diesel Price Index



                                    -3-




                                 SIGNATURE
                                 ---------

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                                      ASHLAND INC.            
                                          -----------------------------------
                                                      (Registrant)



    Date:  December 20, 2004                      /s/ J. Marvin Quin
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Name:     J. Marvin Quin
                                          Title:    Senior Vice President
                                                    and Chief Financial Officer


                                    -4-





                               EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1     Website data concerning Ashland  Distribution  Company's sales per
         ship day

99.2     Website data concerning Ashland Distribution Company's revenue

99.3     Website  data  concerning  Ashland  Distribution  Company's  gross
         profit

99.4     Website  data  concerning  Ashland  Specialty  Chemical  Company's
         average sales per ship day

99.5     Website  data  concerning  Ashland  Specialty  Chemical  Company's
         revenue

99.6     Website data concerning Ashland Specialty Chemical Company's gross
         profit

99.7     Website data concerning Valvoline's premium oil sales

99.8     Website data concerning Valvoline's revenue

99.9     Website data  concerning  Valvoline  Instant Oil  Change's  twelve
         month rolling average sales

99.10    Website  data  concerning  APAC's  twelve month  average  contract
         awards

99.11    Website data  concerning  APAC's lost time incident rates and OSHA
         recordable incident rates

99.12    Website data  concerning  APAC's monthly  revenue and twelve month
         rolling average revenue

99.13    Website data concerning APAC's backlog

99.14    Website data concerning APAC's asphalt mix production

99.15    Website data concerning U.S. Gulf Coast Asphalt Barge Prices 
         
99.16    Website data concerning Sour Crude Differential

99.17    Website data concerning Chicago 3-2-1- Crack Spreads

99.18    Website date concerning APAC's 14-State Weighted Diesel Price Index


                                     -5-