Economic census data released

WASHINGTON, March 17 (UPI) -- Wholesale trade, manufacturing and retail trade are the three main sectors in the U.S. economy, preliminary 2007 Economic Census data indicate.

Data showed wholesale trade businesses reported more than $5.9 trillion in receipts in 2007, an increase from the $4.6 trillion reported in 2002, the last time the Economic Census was compiled, the U.S. Census Bureau said Tuesday in a news release.

The largest increase was reported by manufacturers, who reported shipments of more than $5.3 trillion in 2007, an increase of more than $1.4 trillion over the figure reported in 2002, the Census Bureau said, adding that it was the largest increase among the sectors included in the census.

The healthcare and social assistance sector had the most employees, with nearly 17 million in 2007, an increase of more than 12 percent from 2002, the data showed.

In service-related sectors, the information sector had the highest average payroll per employee in 2007, reporting $64,871, the bureau said. At $14, 649, the accommodation and food services sector reported the lowest payroll per employee in 2007.