Ashland Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries Page 4
OPERATING INFORMATION BY INDUSTRY SEGMENT
(In millions - preliminary and unaudited)
Three months ended
December 31
2006 2005
PERFORMANCE MATERIALS (a) (b)
Sales per shipping day  $ 6.0 $ 5.8
Pounds sold per shipping day 5.0 5.2
Gross profit as a percent of sales     21.1%     21.6%
DISTRIBUTION (a)
Sales per shipping day  $ 15.5 $ 15.9
Pounds sold per shipping day 19.1 20.5
Gross profit as a percent of sales       8.6%     10.2%
VALVOLINE (a)
Lubricant sales (gallons) 38.5 38.5
Premium lubricants (percent of U.S. branded volumes)     21.9%     22.9%
Gross profit as a percent of sales     23.8%     22.1%
WATER TECHNOLOGIES (a) (b)
Sales per shipping day  $ 2.9 $ 1.6
Gross profit as a percent of sales     40.4%     48.5%
(a) Sales are defined as sales and operating revenues.  Gross profit is defined as sales and operating revenues, less cost of sales and operating expenses.  
(b) In June 2006, Ashland redefined its reporting segments as it continues to evolve into a diversified chemical company.  Performance Materials and Water Technologies, formerly combined under Ashland Specialty Chemical, have now been separately disclosed.  Prior periods have been conformed to the current period presentation.