U.S. CORPORATE PROFITS ROSE 6.1 PCT IN 4TH QTR
Profits of U.S. corporations, after
tax liabilities, increased 8.3 billion dlrs, or 6.1 pct, in the
fourth quarter to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 144.2
billion dlrs, the Commerce Department said.
    The increase was the largest since the third quarter of
1983, when profits rose 11.4 pct and followed a 5.5 pct rise in
the third quarter of 1986.
    For the full year 1986, profits after tax were 2.5 billion
dlrs, or 1.9 pct, higher than in 1985 at a total of 133.9
billion dlrs, the department said.
    The department also estimated corporate profits to reflect
retroactive provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
    It said profits after tax fell 11.2 billion dlrs in the
fourth quarter after a decline of 10.3 billion dlrs in the
third quarter.
    Profits before taxes and from current production rose 2.8
pct to 310.4 billion dlrs after rising three pct in the third
quarter.
    Profits tax liability rose to 114.6 billion dlrs in the
final quarter last year from 104.4 billion dlrs in the third
quarter, the department said.
 Reuter
