Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 19, 1995                   TAG: 9510190042
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

REPORTED EARNINGS

Ford Motor Co.'s third-quarter profit fell 68 percent because of reduced sales and production and the costs of a massive new-product program.

The earnings were worse than analysts had expected. All of Ford's profit, moreover, came from its financial services businesses. Its worldwide automotive operations lost money, with the greatest losses coming in Europe and Brazil.

The second-largest U.S. automaker reported net income of $357 million, or 28 cents a share, compared with $1.12 billion, or $1.04, in its record 1994 third quarter. Ford's financial services group earned a record $558 million, compared with $505 million a year ago. But its auto business lost $201 million worldwide, versus a profit of $619 million in the year-ago period. Third-quarter revenue was $31.4 billion, up 2.6 percent from $30.6 billion.

In nine months, Ford earned $3.5 billion, or $3.13 a share, down 7 percent from $3.7 billion, or $3.50. Revenue rose 8.2 percent to $102.59 billion from $94.80 billion.

General Electric

General Electric Co., Fairfield, Conn.-based industrial company, reported third-quarter net income of $1.61 billion, or 96 cents per share, on revenues of $17.34 billion, compared with year-earlier $1.36 billion, or 80 cents per share, on revenues of $14.63 billion. For nine months, net income was $4.7 billion, or $2.79 per share, on revenues of $50 billion, compared with year-earlier $3.96 billion, or $2.32 per share, on revenues of $42.3 billion.

Kroger

Kroger Co., CIncinnati-based supermarket chain, reported third-quarter net income of $61 million, or 51 cents per share, on sales of $6.65 billion, compared with year-earlier $36 million, or 32 cents per share, on sales of $6.65 billion. For nine months, net earnings were $197.3 million, or $1.56 per share, on sales of $18 billion, compared with year-earlier $150.7 million, or $1.25 per share, on sales of $17 billion.

USAir

USAir Group Inc., Arlington-based airline, reported third-quarter net income of $43.1 million, or 35 cents per share, on operating revenues of $1.87 billion, compared with year-earlier net loss of $180.1 million, equal to $3.32 per share, on revenues of $1.75 billion. For nine months, the company reported a net loss of $4 million, equal to 6 cents per share, on revenues of $5.62 billion, compared with year-earlier net loss of $420.9 million, equal to $7.06 per share, on revenues of $5.32 billion.