Let me start off by apologizing for an end-of-the-year mistake. In December 1999 I erroneously defined baby boomers as individuals aged 45 to 64. Fortunately, my mistake was pointed out and I stand corrected to redefine baby boomers as those aged 35 to 54, being born between the years 1945 to 1964.

With that done, the U.S. Census ended 1999 with the release of its latest economic census of businesses in the United States. This survey is conducted every five years and is a major source of information about the structure and functioning of the nations economy.

The exciting element for the automotive service and repair industry shows up in establishment numbers, sales and annual payroll. This particular survey contacts individuals as opposed to making estimates based on previous year numbers, providing a more accurate assessment.

General automotive repair shop numbers have increased from the 1992 numbers of 64,822 establishments with 229,859 employees, to the 1997 figures of 77,751 establishments with 290,634 employees. Receipts also increased for the general automotive repair shops. In 1992, those general automotive repair shops tabulated approximately $18 billion in receipts. That showed an increase of more than a billion a year to $25.6 billion.

Stat Corner is written by Denise Caspersen, ASA's research management specialist. She can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 236.

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