WHOLESALE SALES IN PENNSYLVANIA UP 21 PERCENT SINCE 1987, LED BY 
DRUGS, DRUG PROPRIETARIES, AND DRUGGISTS' SUNDRIES 
WHOLESALERS, CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS

Release:  CB94-EC.70
          November 2,1994

Pennsylvania's 20,230 wholesalers had sales totaling $126.4 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 21 percent since 1987 for
Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania's
wholesalers, up $3.6 billion since 1987. Drugs, drug proprietaries, and
druggists' sundries wholesalers also had the greatest percent increase,
up 95 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 52 percent of total sales in 1992 compared
with 50 percent in 1987. Merchant wholesalers take title to the goods
they sell. They accounted for 82 percent of total establishments in
1992, and 83 percent of ending year inventories. 

The number of wholesalers in Pennsylvania increased 2.2 percent
between 1987 and 1992. 

Automobiles and other motor vehicles wholesalers had the highest
sales among Pennsylvania's wholesalers at $14.4 billion, up 9 percent
from 1987. General-line groceries wholesalers were second at $7.8
billion. 

Pennsylvania had 254,410 wholesale employees in mid-March 1992.
Groceries and related products, n.e.c., wholesalers had the largest
employment among wholesalers at 12,362. 

Wholesale sales in Allegheny County were highest in the State at
$24.8 billion, accounting for 20 percent of the total. Montgomery
County was second at $18.6 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, Pennsylvania, WC92-A-39, 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 803-033-00092-7).
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