econ "New Report on Transportation, Communication & Utilities"
(04/24/95)

EMBARGOED UNTIL:  APRIL 24, 1995 (MONDAY)

Public Information Office                                      
CB95-80
301-457-2794
301-457-4067 (TDD)

Dennis Shoemaker
301-457-2786
800-541-8345

       CENSUS RELEASES MOST COMPREHENSIVE REPORT EVER ON 

    TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATIONS, AND UTILITIES INDUSTRIES 


      EMBARGOED UNTIL:  APRIL 24, 1995 (MONDAY) -  The nation
gets its first comprehensive statistical look at a significant
sector of the services economy, with today's release of the 1992
Census of Transportation, Communications, and Utilities,
Geographic Area Series--Summary (UC92-A-1), by the Commerce
Department's Census Bureau.

      The report includes the first-ever census data on the
communications, electric, gas, and sanitary services industries,
as well as highway passenger, air, and pipeline transportation. 
It also provides updated data for previously covered motor
freight, water, and transportation services.

Communications

      The newly-covered communications sector registered over
$230 billion in revenue during 1992; three-quarters of it from
telephone communications.  The census reports $12.3 billion in
revenues for the radiotelephone communications industry,
primarily cellular phones and beeper services.

      There were nearly 7,000 radio broadcasting establishments,
and they averaged just under $1 million in revenue each. 
Although fewer in number, the 1,562 broadcast TV establishments
produced much more revenue, averaging about $13.4 million each. 
Total revenues of cable TV services, $27.5 billion, surpassed
those of broadcast TV, with $21.4 billion.  Employment was
comparable among the three industries:  with radio at 112,000
employees, broadcast TV at 109,000, and cable TV at 129,000. 
Earnings figures are not adjusted for inflation.

Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services

      Private sector electric and gas services generated $292
billion in revenues during 1992.  Non-government sanitary and
other utility services added another $18.9 billion in revenues.  

Transportation

      Revenues of for-hire transportation industries reached 
$327 billion for 1992.  Trucking and warehousing accounted for
$143 billion, dominated by long-distance trucking with revenues
of $78 billion.

      Air transportation revenues of nearly $83 billion mostly
were attributable to scheduled passenger service, but air courier
services are a growing component.  Combining both air- and
ground-based operations, courier services brought in over 
$30 billion in revenues during 1992.

      Travel agencies had $7 billion in revenue in 1992, a
33-percent increase since 1987, confirming it as one of the most
consistently growing parts of the economy over the last 25 years.

      The census gives us the first numbers ever available to
fully profile local and interurban passenger transit.  The
largest revenues in this group are accounted for by privately run
school bus companies with $3.3 billion, and ambulance or rescue
services with $2.5 billion.  Intercity bus companies reported
$1.1 billion in revenues, and charter bus services, $1.3 billion. 


                                     -X-

Editor's note:  EMBARGOED UNTIL:  APRIL 24, 1995 (MONDAY) - The
full census report includes data for states and metropolitan
areas for most of these industries.  (Data on railroads and
scheduled air passenger service are available only at the
national level.)  Many of the transportation industries
also were included in the 1987 Census of Transportation and
comparative figures shown in the second table attached.

Media representatives may request copies of the report from the
bureau's Public Information Office by telephone:  301-457-2794;
fax:  301-457-3670; or e-mail:  pio@census.gov.  Non-media orders
and requests for the CD-ROM should be directed to the bureau's