Posted March 28, 2011
Profits up for manufacturers, wholesalers
U.S. manufacturers generated after-tax profits of $135.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010, up 9.5% from the third quarter, and up 2% from the same period in 2009.
According to new data just released by the U.S. Census Bureau, seasonally adjusted sales for the quarter totaled $1.48 trillion, up 9.6% from the third quarter and up 5.9% from the $1.34 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2009. Among durable goods manufacturers, seasonally adjusted after-tax profits totaled $67.2 billion, up 5% from the third quarter of 2010 and up 2% from the fourth quarter of 2009. Sales for durable goods manufacturers totaled $969 billion for the quarter.
After-tax profits also increased for wholesalers in the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter 2010 unadjusted after-tax profits for wholesale trade corporations with assets of $50 million and more totaled $6.8 billion, up 2% from the quarter quarter of 2009. Unadjusted sales for the fourth quarter of 2010 were $499.5 billion, up 8.2% from the fourth quarter of 2009.
Durable goods wholesalers after-tax profits totaled $4.3 billion, 1% higher than the same quarter last year.
