UNITED STATES
                     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): March 21, 2006

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

                                  Kentucky
               (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

        1-32532                                             20-0865835
(Commission File Number)                                 (I.R.S. Employer
                                                        Identification No.)

50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky               41011
    (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 2230.425)
[ ]  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))



<PAGE>



Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure

     On March 21, 2006, Ashland Inc. will include the information contained
in exhibits  99.1 - 99.16,  and graphic  images  thereof,  on the "Investor
Relations"  section  of  its  website  located  at  www.ashland.com,  or in
employee communications.

     Ashland is furnishing the  information  pursuant to the Securities and
Exchange  Commission's ("SEC") Regulation FD. The information  contained in
exhibits  99.1 - 99.16 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.


<PAGE>


Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

    (d)     Exhibits

   99.1     Website  data  concerning  Ashland   Distribution's  sales  per
            shipping day

   99.2     Website data concerning Ashland Distribution's revenue

   99.3     Website data concerning Ashland Distribution's gross profit

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

   99.5     Website data concerning Ashland Specialty Chemical's revenue

   99.6     Website data  concerning  Ashland  Specialty  Chemical'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  rolling twelve month 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 Barge Prices

   99.16    Website data concerning  APAC's 14-state  weighted diesel price
            index


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES



     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:  March 21, 2006                     /s/ J. Marvin Quin
                             ----------------------------------------------
                             Name:   J. Marvin Quin
                             Title:  Senior Vice President
                                     and Chief Financial Officer





<PAGE>



                               EXHIBIT INDEX


99.1     Website data concerning Ashland  Distribution's sales per shipping
         day

99.2     Website data concerning Ashland Distribution's revenue

99.3     Website data concerning Ashland Distribution's gross profit

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

99.5     Website data concerning Ashland Specialty Chemical's revenue

99.6     Website data concerning Ashland Specialty Chemical'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  rolling  twelve  month  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 Barge Prices

99.16    Website data  concerning  APAC's  14-state  weighted  diesel price
         index
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ASHLAND INC.", "cik": "0001305014", "assigned-sic": "5160", "irs-number": "200865835", "state-of-incorporation": "KY", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-32532", "film-number": "06701383"}, "business-address": {"street1": "50 EAST RIVERCENTER BLVD., 16TH FLOOR", "city": "COVINGTON", "state": "KY", "zip": "41012", "phone": "859-815-3483"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "50 EAST RIVERCENTER BLVD., 16TH FLOOR", "city": "COVINGTON", "state": "KY", "zip": "41012"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "New EXM Inc.", "date-changed": "20041004"}}
UNITED STATES
                     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): March 21, 2006

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

                                  Kentucky
               (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

        1-32532                                             20-0865835
(Commission File Number)                                 (I.R.S. Employer
                                                        Identification No.)

50 E. RiverCenter Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky               41011
    (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 2230.425)
[ ]  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 March 21, 2006, Ashland Inc. will include the information contained
in exhibits  99.1 - 99.16,  and graphic  images  thereof,  on the "Investor
Relations"  section  of  its  website  located  at  www.ashland.com,  or in
employee communications.

     Ashland is furnishing the  information  pursuant to the Securities and
Exchange  Commission's ("SEC") Regulation FD. The information  contained in
exhibits  99.1 - 99.16 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.
Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

    (d)     Exhibits

   99.1     Website  data  concerning  Ashland   Distribution's  sales  per
            shipping day

   99.2     Website data concerning Ashland Distribution's revenue

   99.3     Website data concerning Ashland Distribution's gross profit

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

   99.5     Website data concerning Ashland Specialty Chemical's revenue

   99.6     Website data  concerning  Ashland  Specialty  Chemical'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  rolling twelve month 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 Barge Prices

   99.16    Website data concerning  APAC's 14-state  weighted diesel price
            index
SIGNATURES

     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:  March 21, 2006                     /s/ J. Marvin Quin
                             ----------------------------------------------
                             Name:   J. Marvin Quin
                             Title:  Senior Vice President
                                     and Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1     Website data concerning Ashland  Distribution's sales per shipping
         day

99.2     Website data concerning Ashland Distribution's revenue

99.3     Website data concerning Ashland Distribution's gross profit

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

99.5     Website data concerning Ashland Specialty Chemical's revenue

99.6     Website data concerning Ashland Specialty Chemical'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  rolling  twelve  month  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 Barge Prices

99.16    Website data  concerning  APAC's  14-state  weighted  diesel price
         index