middlemen to take the lead?

A new economic forecast predicts that the wholesale distribution business will grow faster than the overall economy next year. The forecast, published in a report prepared for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors by Pembroke Consulting and Economy.com, projects that total revenues for wholesale distributors in 18 industries will grow by 5.6 percent next year, compared to an estimated 3.8-percent growth in the U.S. gross domestic product.

The forecast calls for modest growth of 1.4 percent in employment among wholesale distribution businesses, compared with anticipated average national employment growth of 1.2 percent. It projects that revenues will grow fastest for wholesalers in the electrical, equipment, apparel and pharmaceutical businesses. Regionally, the fastest revenue growth is expected in Southeastern, Midwestern and Mountain states.

Pembroke Consulting is a management consulting firm that works with wholesale distribution, manufacturing and business-to-business technology companies. Economy.com provides economic research for business. The complete economic forecast is available from NAW at www.nawpubs.org.