WHOLESALE

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(50-51)

Employment change from last quarter	+ 1.0
Employment change from year ago	+ 2.1
Wage change from year ago	+ 9.3

QUARTERLY

Wholesale Trade employment rose by 1008 and 1% over last quarter. The larger share of the employment gain occurred in Durable Goods (50), which increased by 638. Electrical Goods (506) reported the largest increase up 195 employees. Expansions by one company providing satellite dishes accounted for almost one half of the quarterly gain. Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (508) generated a better than usual seasonal increase of 181. Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (504) was the only subsector to decline over the quarter. Losses were concentrated in the wholesale distribution of computer and peripheral equipment but gains minimized the large losses. The closure of one company dropped about 130 employees from the sector while a major company transferred about 200 on paper to its subsidiary classified in Services.

Nondurable Goods (51) rose by 370 employees. The largest movements took place in Groceries and Related Products (514) up 535 and Misc Nondurable Goods (519), which dropped by 295. Increases in Groceries and Related Products were seasonal and larger than a year ago as this

year a couple of packinghouses took on the responsibility of harvesting. Misc Nondurables losses were seasonal as the spring demand for the distribution of farm supplies such as fertilizer and seeds and flower and nursery stock subsided.

ANNUAL

Annually, Wholesale Trade rose 2.1%. Nondurable Goods (51) gained 2030 of the 2217 new employees. More than half of the Nondurable gain occurred in Groceries & Related Products (514) due to expansions and SIC changes in January into the sector covering about 375. Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (518) incurred the second largest increase up 416 employees. About 200 were added as a result of January SIC changes.

Durable Goods (50) grew by 118. Large losses encountered first quarter due to SIC changes particularly in electronic- electrical goods were offset by expansions in over the last two quarters in Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (508) and Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (507).

Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Third Quarter 1998