WHOLESALE SALES IN NEW JERSEY UP 22 PERCENT SINCE 1987, LED BY 
DRUGS, DRUG PROPRIETARIES, AND DRUGGISTS' SUNDRIES 
WHOLESALERS, CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS

Release:  CB94-EC.76
          November 3,1994

New Jersey's 18,444 wholesalers had sales totaling $176.0 billion in
1992, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau reported today.
Wholesalers are businesses that sell primarily to other businesses and
institutions. 

The 1992 sales total is an increase of 22 percent since 1987 for New
Jersey's wholesalers. Nationwide, wholesale sales rose an estimated 26
percent over the five-year period. 

Drugs, drug proprietaries, and druggists' sundries wholesalers had
the greatest increase in dollar value of sales among New Jersey's
wholesalers, up $9.4 billion since 1987. Toys and hobby goods and
supplies wholesalers had the greatest percent increase, up 156 percent.


OTHER KEY FINDINGS IN THE 1992 CENSUS OF WHOLESALE TRADE: 

Merchant wholesalers continued to be the largest wholesale channel
in the state, accounting for 55 percent of total sales in 1992 compared
with 56 percent in 1987. Merchant wholesalers take title to the goods
they sell. They accounted for 83 percent of total establishments in
1992, and 80 percent of ending year inventories. 

The number of wholesalers in New Jersey increased 4.5 percent
between 1987 and 1992. 

Automobiles and other motor vehicles wholesalers had the highest
sales among New Jersey's wholesalers at $19.7 billion, up 23 percent
from 1987. Drugs, drug proprietaries, and druggists' sundries
wholesalers were second at $16.4 billion. 

New Jersey had 262,705 wholesale employees in mid-March 1992. Drugs,
drug proprietaries, and druggists' sundries wholesalers had the largest
employment among wholesalers at 16,386. 

Wholesale sales in Bergen County were highest in the State at $48.8
billion, accounting for 28 percent of the total. Middlesex County was
second at $21.7 billion. 

The state and county data presented in this release are from the
1992 Census of Wholesale Trade. The full report also shows data for
metropolitan areas and cities. Data are in current dollars and are not
adjusted for inflation. 

Copies of the report, 1992 Census of Wholesale Trade,
Geographic Area Series, New Jersey, WC92-A-31, will be available
for sale within a few weeks from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, P. O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA
15250-7954. (Price $5.50, Stock number 803-033-00084-6). Reports for
other states and a United States Summary are being published through
the end of 1994. Data from the reports also will be available on
CD-ROM. Order forms may be obtained from the Data User Services
Division, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233 on
301-763-4100.

For more information contact:  John Trimble
                               (301) 763-5281
                               (800) 541-8345