This report, which was prepared in conjunction with the 1992 Census of Wholesale Trade, provides data on selected characteristics of merchant wholesalers, including measures of value produced, capital expenditures, depreciable assets, and operating expenses.

Data in this report are based on information collected from a probability sample of merchant wholesalers used to produce monthly national estimates of wholesale sales published in the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey. A description of the survey methodology, estimating procedures, and concepts is presented in appendix A.

The 1992 statistics are summarized by kind-of-business classifications based on the Standard Industrial Classification Manual: 1987 (SIC). This report covers all merchant wholesale operations in the Nation. All major kinds of business in which merchant wholesalers operate are represented and are described in appendix A.