WHOLESALE SALES IN NEW MEXICO UP 23 PERCENT SINCE 1987, 
LED BY AUTOMOBILES AND OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES 
WHOLESALERS, CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS

Release:  CB94-EC.10
          August 10,1994

New Mexico's 2,515 wholesalers had sales totaling $6.3 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 23 percent since 1987 for New
Mexico's wholesalers. Nationwide, wholesale sales rose an estimated 22
percent over the five-year period. 

Automobiles and other motor vehicles wholesalers had the greatest
increase in dollar value of sales among New Mexico's wholesalers, up
$204.4 million since 1987. Transportation equipment and supplies,
except motor vehicles, wholesalers had the greatest percent increase,
up 599 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 72 percent of total sales in 1992 compared
with 76 percent in 1987. Merchant wholesalers take title to the goods
they sell. They accounted for 87 percent of total establishments in
1992, and 91 percent of ending year inventories. 

The number of wholesalers in New Mexico increased 4.8 percent
between 1987 and 1992. 

Petroleum bulk stations and terminals had the highest sales among
New Mexico's wholesalers at $813.3 million, down 4 percent from 1987.
Automobiles and other motor vehicles wholesalers were second at $333.2
million. 

New Mexico had 22,603 wholesale employees in mid-March 1992.
Petroleum bulk stations and terminals had the largest employment among
wholesalers at 1,539. 

Wholesale sales in Bernalillo County were highest in the State at
$3.8 billion, accounting for 60 percent of the total. San Juan County
was second at $313.7 million. 

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, 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 Mexico, WC92-A-32, 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 $3.75, Stock number 803-033-00085-4). 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