Table Of Content

1967 CENSUS OF BUSINESS Vol. Ill WHOLESALE TRADE - SUBJECT REPORTS U.S. Summary, Sales Size, Employment Size, Single Units and Multiunits; Credit Sales, Receivables, and Bad Debt Losses; Sales by Class of Customer; Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals; Value Produced, Capital Expenditures, Fixed Assets, and Rental Payments, by Merchant Wholesalers; and Miscellaneous Subjects Issued January 1971 J U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Maurice H. Stans, Secretary Rocco C. Siciliano, Under Secretary Harold C. Passer, Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs BUREAU OF THE CENSUS George Hay Brown, Director Acknowledgments This report was prepared in the Business Division under the general direction of Harvey Kailin, Division Chief, with direct supervision by Louis Greenberg, Assistant Chief, Program Development, who succeeded Henry Wulff. Plans and implementation procedures for the wholesale trade segment of the Census of Business were developed by John Albright, Chief, Wholesale Programs Branch, who was succeeded by Caesar Hill. Earl Wiley, with assistance from Philip Thomas, Carl Hamilton, and John Trimble, was responsible for resolving problems and reviewing the data for publication. Robert Viehman served as Coordinator and was the Business Division's liaison officer with other divisions. Staff assistance was provided by Paul Shapiro, Assistant Division Chief, Program Implementation, Ralph S. Woodruff, Assistant Division Chief, Research and Methodology, and Max Shor, Assistant Division Chief, Staff and Special Projects. Systems and procedures were developed in the Systems Division, Sol Dolleck, Chief, by Eugene Wendt, Assistant Division Chief for Periodic Censuses, assisted by Samuel Schweid, Economic Census Program BUREAU OF THE CENSUS Manager, and Alvin Barten. Electronic computer programs were developed under the supervision of William Lorenz, assisted by Martha George Hay Brown, Director Sullivan, Katherine Fresher, and Robert Janshego. Production controls were established under the supervision of Francis Robert F. Drury, Boucher and James R. Pepal, assisted by Caromel Wooten. Data Deputy Director processing and related operations were performed by the Processing Division, M. Douglas Fahey, Chief, assisted by Rudolph Micoly and Walter F. Ryan, James Shores. Associate Director Dino S. Villa, Editorial supervision was provided by Julia Moring of the Admini¬ strative and Publications Services Division. Deputy Associate Director Processing of wholesale reports was performed by the Jeffersonville Census Operation Division, Joseph F. Arbena, Chief. Arthur Horowitz, in his capacity as the coordinator of the economic BUSINESS DIVISION censuses, made important contributions to the planning and operational phases of the work. Harvey Kailin, Chief Special acknowledgment is due to the many businesses whose coopera¬ tion has contributed to the publication of the data. The statistics presented in this volume incorporate the subject preprints, series BC67-WS. Wholesale Trade Subject Reports CONTENTS page Introduction. V 1967 Census of Business Final Reports . VI Summary of Findings . VII United States Summary . 1-1 Sales Size, Employment Size, Single Units and Multiunits. 2-1 Credit Sales, Receivables, and Bad-Debt Losses. 3-1 Sales by Class of Customer . 4-1 Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals . 5-1 Value Produced, Capital Expenditures, Fixed Assets, and Rental Payments, by Merchant Wholesalers. 6-1 Miscellaneous Subjects. 7-1 Public Warehousing. 8-1 APPENDIX A General Explanation . A-1 B Provisions of Law Relating to the 1967 Census of Business.A-14 C Wholesale Trade General Questions.A-15 D Kind-of-Business Titles and Reporting-Form Numbers.A-18 E Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas.A-19 Introduction AUTHORITY AND SCOPE—The economic cen¬ whi suses are required by law under Title 13, U.S. Sta Code, sections 131, 191, and 224. The 1967 wit Census of Business portion of the economic me censuses consisted of firms engaged in retail Ne trade, wholesale trade, and selected services for (hotels and motels; personal, business, and re¬ an< pair services; and amusement and recreation to ’ services including the motion picture industry) gar which operated in the United States. In addi¬ tioi tion, the Census of Business covered public the warehouses, dental laboratories, law firms, are architectural and engineering firms, travel agencies, and truck and bus carriers not sub¬ CE ject to economic regulation by the Interstate wit Commerce Commission. Data for the contract dal construction industry also were collected in this vid census but published in a separate series of are reports. The Census of Business also covered est Guam and the Virgin Islands. A separate 1967 sid Census of Business, Manufactures, and Con¬ pe; struction for Puerto Rico was conducted jointly ma with the Commonwealth Government. are KINDS OF BUSINESS COVERED—This report ie comprise the statistical portions of previously covers all establishments included in wholesale CO C67-WA and BC67-WS). Corrections made after trade (limited by definition to those with one or cor more paid employees) in accordance with the pul the reports have been carried to the cities and principles of the Standard Industrial Classifica- afti iions have not been carried to the standard tion (SIC) Manual, 1967.1 Also included are bee is. States, etc., unless they significantly affect the 1 Executive Office of the President, Bureau of the Un' Budget, Standard Industrial Classification Manual, are 1967. nol Introduction AUTHORITY AND SCOPE—The economic cen¬ wholesale liquor establishments operated by suses are required by law under Title 13, U.S. State and local governments. Establishments Code, sections 131, 191, and 224. The 1967 without paid employees, engaged in marketing Census of Business portion of the economic merchandise at wholesale, are not included. censuses consisted of firms engaged in retail Neither do the basic tabulations include data trade, wholesale trade, and selected services for administrative offices, captive warehouses, (hotels and motels; personal, business, and re¬ and other units which service or are auxiliary pair services; and amusement and recreation to wholesale establishments within the same or¬ services including the motion picture industry) ganization. Seethe Kind-of-Business Classifica¬ which operated in the United States. In addi¬ tions section of appendix A for definitions of tion, the Census of Business covered public the kind-of-business categories for which data warehouses, dental laboratories, law firms, are shown in this report. architectural and engineering firms, travel agencies, and truck and bus carriers not sub¬ CENSUS DISCLOSURE RULES—In accordance ject to economic regulation by the Interstate with Federal law governing census reports, any Commerce Commission. Data for the contract data which disclose the operations of an indi¬ construction industry also were collected in this vidual establishment or business organization census but published in a separate series of are not published. However, the number of reports. The Census of Business also covered establishments in a kind of business is not con¬ Guam and the Virgin Islands. A separate 1967 sidered a disclosure, so that this item may ap¬ Census of Business, Manufactures, and Con¬ pear in instances where other items of infor¬ struction for Puerto Rico was conducted jointly mation for the same kind of business or locality with the Commonwealth Government. are withheld. KINDS OF BUSINESS COVERED—This report covers all establishments included in wholesale CORRECTIONS TO DATA—Data in this report trade (limited by definition to those with one or comprise the statistical portions of previously more paid employees) in accordance with the published reports (series BC-WA). Errors found principles of the Standard Industrial Classifica¬ after the final publications were issued have not tion (SIC) Manual, 1967.1 Also included are been carried to specific areas in this report unless they significantly affect the data for such 1 Executive Office of the President, Bureau of the Budget, Standard Industrial Classification Manual, areas. As a result the detail in some tables may 1967. not add to totals. V 1967 Census of Business volume five Final Reports SELECTED SERVICES-AREA STATISTICS A United States summary chapter and chapters for each State, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Statistics are presented by kind of business for counties, cities, BOUND VOLUMES standard metropolitan statistical areas, and for selected towns volume one and townships in New England, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The kind-of-business detail varies in accordance with the RETAIL TRADE-SUBJECT REPORTS number of service establishments in an area. This volume consists of the area preprints, series BC67-SA. Chapter 1. United States 2. Sales Size 3. Employment Size 4. Single Units and Multiunits OTHER FINAL REPORTS (UNBOUND) This volume consists of the United States summary chapter previously issued as part of the area reports, series BC67-RA, Reports containing 1967 Census of Business data which are and the subject reports issued as series BC67-RS, except RS5. not included in the bound volumes described above are- MAJOR RETAIL CENTERS REPORTS volume two (SERIES BC67-MRC) A summary report and a report for each State containing one RETAIL TRADE-AREA STATISTICS or more standard metropolitan statistical areas (SMSA's). Each A United States summary chapter and chapters for each State, report presents statistics for each SMSA in the State, the major the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. retail centers (MRC's) in the SMSA, and the central business Statistics are presented by kind of business for counties, cities, district (CBD) in each city with 100,000 inhabitants or more standard metropolitan statistical areas, and for selected towns in the SMSA. Statistics for the CBD are presented for retail and townships in New England, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. trade by kind of business. Data for each major retail center The kind-of-business detail varies in accordance with the include (a) sales and establishment counts for total retail trade number of retail establishments in an area. This volume and for three major subgroups of retail trade and (b) consists of the area preprints, series BC67-R A. establishment counts only by detailed kinds of business. These reports have been issued as series BC67-MRC. volume three WHOLESALE TRADE-SUBJECT REPORTS RETAIL MERCHANDISE LINE SALES REPORTS Chapter 1. United States (SERIES BC67-MLS) 2. Sales Size, Employment Size, Single Units and A United States summary report and a report for each State. Multiunits Each report presents statistics on (a) number of establishments 3. Credit Sales, Receivables, and Bad-Debt Losses and total sales for establishments in a specified kind of 4. Sales by Class of Customer business, (b) the number and total sales of those establish¬ 5. Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals ments reporting their sales by the 25 broad merchandise lines, 6. Value Produced, Capital Expenditures, Fixed Assets, (c) the percentage of total sales accounted for by each of the and Rental Payments, by Merchant Wholesalers 25 broad lines, and (d) for establishments handling a specific 7. Miscellaneous line, what percent of their total sales is represented by sales of 8. Public Warehousing that line. Additional merchandise line detail is shown for This volume consists of the United States summary chapter selected kinds of business. These reports have been issued as previously issued as part of the area reports, series BC67-WA, series BC67-MLS. and the subject reports issued as series BC67-WS, except WS5 and WS7 . OTHER SUBJECT REPORTS volume four Warehouse Space, Warehouse Equipment, and Delivery Equip¬ ment (BC67-WS5) WHOLESALE TRADE-AREA STATISTICS Wholesale Commodity Line Sales (BC67-WS7) Hotels, Motors Hotels, and Motels (BC67-SS2) A United States summary chapter and chapters for each State, Laundries, Cleaning Plants, Related Services (BC67-SS3) the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Statistics are presented by kind of business for counties, cities, Motion Pictures (BC67-SS4) standard metropolitan statistical areas, and for selected towns Law Firms (BC67-SS5) and townships in New England, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Architectural and Engineering Firms (BC67-SS6) Summary of Findings 1967 CENSUS ENUMERATION establishments as a group compared with a 105.8-percent increase in sales of merchant wholesalers, an 82.5-percent increase in retail trade, and a 118.5-percent increase in the gross national product during the same period. GENERAL The increase since 1954 of 96.4 percent in wholesale trade reflects, in part, a 14.3-percent increase in wholesale prices as Sales—Sales of wholesale establishments in the United States reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; but, after allowing totaled $459 billion in 1967, an increase of 28.2 percent over the for this change, there remains a substantial increment repre¬ $358 billion recorded in the previous Business Census year 1963, senting growth in the physical volume of wholesale trade. Per and 96.4 percent above the $234 billion in 1954. The $459 billion capita value increase also is indicated, as the increase in in 1967 was composed of $206 billion sales by merchant whole¬ population from 163 million inhabitants in 1954 to 199 million salers who buy and sell merchandise at wholesale on their own in 1967 amounted to 22.1 percent. account; $157 billion by sales branches and sales offices operated by manufacturers primarily for marketing products of their own Table A presents these and other summary facts for the plants; $25 billion by petroleum bulk stations and terminals; $61 Business Census years 1954, 1958, 1963, and 1967. billion by agents and brokers marketing merchandise at whole¬ sale, on an agency basis; and $10 billion by wholesale buyers and Establishments—At the end of 1967 there were in the United dealers in farm products, buying direct from farmers. States 311,646 establishments (places of business) operated by firms with paid employees and primarily engaged in marketing Sales of merchant wholesalers (firms who buy and sell merchandise at wholesale. In this number each wholesale location merchandise on their own account and are not primarily engaged of organizations operating more than one place of business is in manufacturing or producing the goods) increased from $100 counted separately. The census of wholesale trade was defined in billion in 54 to $206 billion in 1967, an increase of 105.8 1954 to exclude businesses without paid employees and whole¬ percent in the 13-year period. sale trade statistics in the 1954 census and subsequent years exclude such businesses. The relationship of the trend in wholesale trade sales to trends in other parts of the economy is illustrated by data in the An establishment is considered to be primarily engaged in accompanying summary table A. This table shows an increase of wholesale trade when its principal business is buying and/or 96.4 percent from 1954 to 1967 in sales of all wholesale selling merchandise at wholesale, or acting as an agent or broker TABLE A. Wholesale Sales and Other National Indicators: 1954 to 1967 — Sales, wholesale Gross national Sales merchant Sales, all Wholesale establishments, all product® wholesalers retail stores price Popula¬ types of operation Popula¬ index Business tion tion all census year index commod¬ Amount Index Amount Index Amount Index Amount Index ities3 (1954* (Bil. (1954* (1954* (1954= (1954* (1954= (1,000) 100) dol.) 100) ($1,000) 100) ($1,000) 100) ($1,000) 100) 100) 1954. 163,026 100.0 363.1 100.0 233,976,052 100,102,571 100.0 169,967,748 100.0 100.0 1958. 174,882 107.3 441.7 121.7 285,726,904 122,060,171 121.9 200,364,678 117.9 108.1 1963. 189,417 116.2 583.9 160.8 358,385,749 ■1 157,391,769 157.2 244,201,777 143.7 108.0 1967. 199,119 122.1 793.5 218.5 459,475,967 206,055,065 205.8 210,214,393 182.5 114.3 1Total population including armed forces abroad. aSource: Department of Commerce, Office of Business Economics. 3Source: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. us ns e C e h of t u urea B e c er m m o C of nt e m art p e D S. U . in marketing goods at wholesale. "At wholesale" includes Inventories—Stocks of merchandise on hand for sale at the end of marketing or selling merchandise to retailers; to other wholesale 1967 were valued, at cost, at $28 billion, up 39.5 percent from organizations; and to industrial, commercial, professional, institu¬ 1963. They were up 115.5 percent in 1967 over the end of 1954. tional, and similar users. Establishments selling to customers primarily engaged in buying for business use—rather than for Employment and payroll—Wholesale trade establishments pro¬ resale of the goods in the form purchased—are included, as well vided employment for 3,518,969 paid employees and 122,297 as establishments selling to resellers. owners of unincorporated businesses as of mid-March 1967. In addition there were 162,862 employees of central offices and The number of wholesale trade establishments increased auxiliary units servicing wholesale establishments. from 250,000 in 1954 to 287,000 in 1958, 308,000 in 1963, and to 311,000 in 1967. Data for Alaska and Hawaii are included in Payroll of wholesale establishments amounted to $23.9 1958, 1963, and 1967, but not in 1954. Alaska had 254 billion for the year 1967, up 32.2 percent from the $18.1 billion wholesale establishments in 1958, 291, in 1963, and 365 in in 1963, and 117.1 percent above 1954. Payroll in 1967 of 1967; Hawaii had 793 establishments in 1958, 974 in 1963, and central administrative offices servicing wholesale establishments 1030 in 1967. amounted to $1.4 billion. TABLE B. Wholesale Trade Summary—United States: 1954 to 1967 Paid employees, Active proprietors Inventories, end Payroll entire Business census year Establishments Sales of year, at cost year nweaorrkewste eMk aernchd ed1 2l of unbiunscinoerpssoersa ted (number) ($1,000) ($1,000) ($1,000) (number) (number) 1967.. . 311,464 459,475,967 28,117,086 23,921,680 3,518,969 122,297 19630 . 308,177 358,385,749 20,149,840 18,100,929 3,088,706 138,222 1958. 287,403 285,726,904 15,009,294 13,244,008 2,807,661 157,929 19542. 250,322 233,976,052 13,046,175 10,867,903 2,554,700 150,346 'Pay period was week nearest November 15 for years prior to 1907. 2Alaska and Hawaii not included in 1954 data. Type of operation—Wholesale trade, as defined in the Standard Merchant wholesalers. Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual in accordance with which Manufacturers' sales branches and sales offices. censuses are conducted, includes more than is indicated in the Petroleum bulk plants and terminals. terms "wholesaler" and "jobber." It encompasses all types of Merchandise agents and brokers. establishments primarily engaged in selling merchandise at Assemblers of farm products. wholesale—merchants, distributors, exporters, importers; mer¬ chandise agents and brokers; commission merchants; manufac¬ These five groups are further subdivided into 18 detailed turers' sales branches and sales offices operated apart from subtypes as described in appendix A. Summary information is plants; and dealers buying products from farmers and selling at presented for each of the various subtypes in table 3, United wholesale. For census purposes, wholesale trade is divided into States Summary, followed by kind-of-business data for each of five major type-of-operation groups as listed below, and each the subtypes. wholesale establishment is assigned to one of the classifications according to the characteristics of its operation, or to the nature Merchant wholesalers have consistently constituted the of functions performed: most important major type-of-operation group with sales varying TABLE Co Wholesale Trade by Type of Operation-United States: 1954 to 1967 Number of establishments Sales (million dollars) Percentage change in sales Type of operation 1963 to 1958 to 1954 to 1967 1963 1958 1954 1967 1963 1958 1954 1967 1967 1967 All types of operations, total... 311,464 308,177 287,043 250,322 459,475 358,386 285,727 233,976 28.2 60.8 96.4 Merchant wholesalers. 212,993 208,997 190,492 163,157 206,055 157,392 122,060 100,103 30.9 68.8 105.8 Manufacturer's sales branches, sales offices. 30,679 28,884 25,240 22,590 157,096 116,443 87,820 69,534 34.9 78.9 125.9 Petroleum bulk stations, terminals. 30,229 . 30,873 30,520 29,189 24,821 21,485 20,252 16,038 15.5 22.5 54.7 Merchandise agents, brokers. 26,462 25,313 26,666 22,131 61,347 53,245 46,589 39,250 15.2 31.7 56.3 Assemblers of farm products. 11,101 14,110 14,125 13,255 10,155 9,820 9,005 9,051 3.4 12.8 11.3 Note: Data for Alaska and Hawaii included in 1958, 1963, and 1967, but not for 1954.