Southeast to lead wholesale distribution industry in 2004

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., December 10, 2003 - A new report titled NAW Economic
Forecast 2004, by Pembroke Consulting and Economy.com for the National
Association of Wholesaler-Distributors forecasts that
wholesaler-distributors in the Southeast region of the U.S. will lead the
industry in terms of jobs and revenue growth. 
State Forecasts - Fla., N.C., S.C., & Ga.

Among wholesaler-distributors across all 50 states and in the Southeast,
Florida's wholesale distribution companies will likely be the fastest
growing in terms of revenues. On average, revenues by
wholesaler-distributors in Florida are forecast to rise 8 percent in 2004.
Georgia's distributors will also see revenues climb 5.2 percent, followed by
North Carolina at 4 percent and South Carolina at 3.6 percent, respectively.

Florida will also lead the Southeast region in employment growth among
wholesaler-distributors as well with a forecast growth in hiring of 3.5
percent. North Carolina will see wholesale distribution jobs climb 1.7
percent followed by South Carolina at 1.4 percent. Georgia will see jobs in
wholesale distribution increase slightly at approximately 1 percent.

Southeast Regional Forecast for Wholesale Distribution

Employment and revenue growth among wholesaler-distributors in the Southeast
will be the fastest growing in the nation. The regional average for revenue
growth by wholesaler distributors is forecast at 6.2 percent and the
regional forecast for employment growth among wholesaler-distributors is 2.1
percent.

According to Pembroke Consulting's regional analysis, there are
approximately 61,000 locations involved with wholesale distribution in the
Southeast. These companies employ over 660,000 people in the region in jobs
ranging from sales and office workers to truckers and warehouse workers.

National Forecast for Wholesale Distribution

The report forecasts the national average employment growth among all
wholesale distributors at 1.4 percent and revenue growth by wholesale
distribution companies at 5.6 percent. Across the U.S., the wholesale
distribution industry consists of over 300,000 companies that employ nearly
one out of every 20 Americans.

Philadelphia-based Pembroke Consulting develops business and marketing
strategies for leading wholesale distribution, manufacturing and B2B
technology companies. To learn more about the firm visit
www.PembrokeConsulting.com.